Big Technology Podcast Silicon Valley's Effective Altruist vs. Accelerationist Religious War
Nov 29, 2023
Molly White, a crypto researcher and author of 'Citation Needed', joins internet culture reporter Ryan Broderick, creator of 'Garbage Day', and Deepa Seetharaman, a Wall Street Journal AI reporter. The trio dives into the clash between Effective Altruism and Effective Accelerationism in Silicon Valley, discussing how these ideologies shaped the OpenAI debacle. They explore the implications of each group's philosophy on AI ethics, corporate culture, and the future of technology, revealing the complex dynamics of risk versus rapid advancement in the tech landscape.
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EA vs. E/Acc
- Effective Altruism (EA) emphasizes data-driven analysis to maximize good, considering existential risks like AI.
- Effective Accelerationism (e/acc) prioritizes rapid technological advancement, downplaying risks, rooted in a thermodynamic universe view.
LessWrong's Influence
- LessWrong, an influential online forum, birthed EA and other digital philosophies, including a focus on AI.
- It also explored the concept of an AI that would eliminate those who didn't contribute to its creation.
E/Acc's Rise
- E/acc, initially a meme, emphasizes speed and downplays regulation and safety in AI development, mirroring far-right post-Trump.
- E/acc and EA differ primarily in timeframe, with minimal differences regarding end goals.