Doom Debates These Effective Altruists Betrayed Me — Holly Elmore, PauseAI US Executive Director
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Nov 11, 2025 Holly Elmore, Executive Director of PauseAI US and a passionate activist, discusses the tensions within the AI safety community and her decision to lead protests against frontier AI labs. She shares her experiences of feeling betrayed by former allies and highlights the insular nature of effective altruism, where reputation often takes precedence over genuine safety concerns. Holly emphasizes the importance of public advocacy, explaining how shifting focus can bridge gaps between communities and reduce harmful tribalism in AI discourse.
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Backlash From Former Allies
- Holly recounts that early protests she organized drew vicious criticism from people in the AI safety community.
- She felt hurt because critics were people she considered allies and it forced her to realize they simply didn't want public activism.
Accidentally Inviting A Tech Leader
- Holly accidentally invited Dario to an early protest by clicking invite-by-hand on Facebook.
- She found it amusing and indicative of how small some insider networks felt.
Use Books As Mobilizing Hooks
- Organize accessible public events around entry points like a popular book to broaden engagement.
- Use nationwide and international simultaneous events to give people time to read and discuss before acting.
