in terms of augmenting humans, my impression is that genetic engineering is by far the most effective intervention. my understanding is that we’re currently making a lot of progress in that area, yet some important research aspects seem neglected, and could have a transformative impact on the world.
There are currently several legal, high-quality psychedelic modalities on offer that I would be personally excited to work with (1, 2, 3, 4). Many more will be coming online within the next 5 years.
I haven’t heard of any genetic engineering interventions on the market that are currently having a transformative impact, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable personally participating in genetic engineering until it was way more battle-tested.
Humans have been using psychedelic healing modalities to good effect for thousands of years – that track record plus what we know from the research about their risk/reward profile makes me feel comfortable working with them (in a respectful way).
Genetic engineering doesn’t seem to have a comparable track record or a comparable evidence base.
so am understanding you have short AI timelines, and so don’t think genetic engineering would have time to pay off, but psychedelics would, and that you think it’s of similar relevance as working directly on the problem
oh, by bad. apologies. thanks for the quote!
in terms of augmenting humans, my impression is that genetic engineering is by far the most effective intervention. my understanding is that we’re currently making a lot of progress in that area, yet some important research aspects seem neglected, and could have a transformative impact on the world.
I wonder if you disagree
Yes, I disagree.
There are currently several legal, high-quality psychedelic modalities on offer that I would be personally excited to work with (1, 2, 3, 4). Many more will be coming online within the next 5 years.
I haven’t heard of any genetic engineering interventions on the market that are currently having a transformative impact, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable personally participating in genetic engineering until it was way more battle-tested.
Humans have been using psychedelic healing modalities to good effect for thousands of years – that track record plus what we know from the research about their risk/reward profile makes me feel comfortable working with them (in a respectful way).
Genetic engineering doesn’t seem to have a comparable track record or a comparable evidence base.
thanks for your answer!
You get humans from primates with genetic modifications, not psychedelic :)
No intentionality though, just a blind process over millennia.
With intentionality, you can go from birds to 747s and F-16s in 70 years.
so am understanding you have short AI timelines, and so don’t think genetic engineering would have time to pay off, but psychedelics would, and that you think it’s of similar relevance as working directly on the problem