I suppose I consider this a test :)
(obviously I don’t mind my ideas not being refined before publishing)
yanni
Karma: 80
Only done it once, didn’t have it available. But believe you me, the day will come where I have an idea you like. You just wait.
This idea bombed, so here is another to chew over. When you next apply for a job, consider asking the hiring manager these two questions:
Do you regularly (e.g. half-yearly, yearly) receive formal feedback on your performance from managers and direct reports?
Can I see this feedback?
If they don’t get feedback, this is revealing. If they do, but they don’t share it, this is revealing. If they do get feedback AND they share it with you, that is optimal.
I’ve not done it before, but if I was hiring and a strong candidate asked me to do it, I would!
Interesting. So you’re saying you don’t think it is true that you could ask your next prospective employer to do a task for you as part of the interview process?
“employers have more power than employees”—I think what this is revealing is that I’m operating from a position of extreme priviledge, as I don’t feel this way at all.
I agree. I just think there is some chance that AGI would wipe all of us out in an instant. And I don’t trust humans to improve the lives of non human animals any time soon.
The number of non-human animals being tortured is one reason. But that doesn’t (yet) justify accelerating AGI.
I’d be very interested in why people don’t like this idea!
Remember—you can request hiring managers complete work tasks for you as part of a job application.
If work tasks are so good at filtering for quality applicants, it should work in reverse. Set the hiring manager a time-bound task and gauge based on their responses whether you think they’re a good fit for you.
Think of all the things that are important to you as an employee and bake those into the test.
If they don’t do the test, then you probably shouldn’t work for them.
I think there is an argument that animal welfare intervention prioritisation should consider an AGI timeline of ~ 5 years, but not put too much stock in it.
What are the animal welfare interventions that (1) have potential for high impact and (2) are very short term [i.e. if they work, they work within 10 years]? Basically, my AGI timelines are something like 40% ≤ 10 years and 40% ≤ 15 years. And I believe there isn’t much point worrying about much after these timelines.
Nice! Thanks
Question: I’ve noticed CE is investing in tobacco regulation. This has made me wonder if alcohol regulation been considered as a cause area? In some ways its externalities are worse (e.g. domestic violence). I’m very uncertain about its tractability and neglectedness compared to tobacco though.
You seem annoyed, so I will leave the conversation here.
Great post Chris, very clear. I’d like to add something of a bummer reply, to anyone reading:
Please don’t work on AI Safety unless what is motivating you is the genuine desire to have a positive impact.
I think there is already a real failure mode where status motivated people are joining the space because (1) of the attention it is getting among the general public. I.e. it is ‘sexy’ and (2) the people they respect are also in the space.
If this kind of person is put in the position of losing status for what one believes is good and true (e.g. Stanislov Petrov) then I don’t trust them to make the right decisions.
Maybe I’ll write a post about this...
Thanks for your thoughtful reply, I appreciate it :)
I am a bit confused still. I’m struggling to see how the work of GWWC is similar to the Pause Movement? Unless you’re saying there is a vocal contingent of EAs (who don’t work for GWWC) who publicly advocate (to non-EAs) for donating ≥ 10% of your income? I haven’t seen these people.In short, I’m struggling to see how they’re analogous situations.
Can you provide a historical example of advocacy that you think reaches a high level of thoughtfulness and consideration?
I think it also makes sense to consider (1) who would actually read the book if I gave it to them (2) what their response would be (i.e. would they dismiss it outright?).
This is good feedback! I’ll make it clearer that this is something to consider, not to do without consideration 👍