Open Philanthropy reports on their investment in Sherlock Biosciences to support the development of a diagnostic platform to quickly, easily, and inexpensively identify any human virus present in a sample. (15 mins.)
Shaping the development of artificial intelligence
Ajeya Cotra discusses how we might estimate how long it will take for transformative AI to emerge. This report is very long, so we recommend starting with Rohin Shah’s summary.
For more research and discussion on AI timelines, see AI Impacts and LessWrong.
An argument for how advances in military technology (including but not limited to AI) can impede decision-making and create risk, thus demanding greater attention by the national security establishment. (60 mins.)
An explanation of how atomically precise manufacturing could displace industrial production technologies and bring radical improvements in production cost, scope, and resource efficiency. (10 mins.)
A documentary exploring what artificial intelligence can reveal about the ancient game of Go, and what that can teach us about the future potential of artificial intelligence. (Video − 1 hour 30 mins.)
An exploration of ways in which the future of surveillance could be bad, and an investigation into accountable, privacy-preserving surveillance protocols. (Video − 15 mins.)
Emerging Technologies: More to explore
Global historical trends
Modeling the Human Trajectory (30 mins.)
Books on macrohistory: Guns, Germs, and Steel or Global Economic History: A Very Short Introduction
Biosecurity
Does Biotechnology Pose New Catastrophic Risks?
A description of the challenges of managing dual-use capabilities enabled by modern biotechnology. (60 mins.)
Explaining Our Bet on Sherlock Biosciences’ Innovations in Viral Diagnostics
Open Philanthropy reports on their investment in Sherlock Biosciences to support the development of a diagnostic platform to quickly, easily, and inexpensively identify any human virus present in a sample. (15 mins.)
Shaping the development of artificial intelligence
The new 30-person research team in DC investigating how emerging technologies could affect national security
How might international security be altered if the impact of machine learning is similar in scope to that of electricity? (Podcast − 2 hours)
Potential Risks from Advanced Artificial Intelligence: The Philanthropic Opportunity
Why reducing risks from AI might be one of the most outstanding philanthropic opportunities. (40 mins.)
Draft report on AI timelines
Ajeya Cotra discusses how we might estimate how long it will take for transformative AI to emerge. This report is very long, so we recommend starting with Rohin Shah’s summary.
For more research and discussion on AI timelines, see AI Impacts and LessWrong.
Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and The Problem of Control (Book)
The Alignment Problem: Machine Learning and Human Values (Book)
Other
Technology Roulette: Managing Loss of Control as Many Militaries Pursue Technological Superiority
An argument for how advances in military technology (including but not limited to AI) can impede decision-making and create risk, thus demanding greater attention by the national security establishment. (60 mins.)
Big nanotech: towards post-industrial manufacturing
An explanation of how atomically precise manufacturing could displace industrial production technologies and bring radical improvements in production cost, scope, and resource efficiency. (10 mins.)
AlphaGo
A documentary exploring what artificial intelligence can reveal about the ancient game of Go, and what that can teach us about the future potential of artificial intelligence. (Video − 1 hour 30 mins.)
The Artificial Intelligence Revolution: Part 1 and Part 2
A lighthearted and interesting exploration of artificial intelligence by the popular blogger Tim Urban. (45 mins.)
Best read alongside Luke Muehlhauser’s additional notes (which correct and clarify many details in Tim’s posts).
The Future of Surveillance
An exploration of ways in which the future of surveillance could be bad, and an investigation into accountable, privacy-preserving surveillance protocols. (Video − 15 mins.)