LessWrong (Curated & Popular) “Short Timelines don’t Devalue Long Horizon Research” by Vladimir_Nesov
8 snips
Apr 9, 2025 The discussion delves into the intriguing dynamic between rapid AI advancements and the critical importance of long-horizon research. It emphasizes that even incomplete research agendas can direct future AIs toward essential but neglected areas. The speaker argues that prioritizing long-term research is still valuable, even in the face of short timelines, suggesting that AI could effectively carry forward these agendas. This perspective reshapes how we view the development of alignment strategies in an era of fast-paced technological change.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Value of Long-Term Research
- Short AI takeoff timelines may seem to hinder long-term alignment research.
- However, this research can guide future AI, improving its judgment and accelerating alignment efforts.
AI's Role
- Prioritizing research with no short-term practical application is reasonable.
- Future AI can leverage this groundwork, accelerating progress toward practical alignment techniques.
Prioritize Foundational Research
- Focus on advancing and clarifying foundational alignment research areas.
- This includes agent foundations and decision theory, which lack immediate applications but are crucial for future AI alignment.