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Aleksei_Riikonen comments on Call for new SIAI Visiting Fellows, on a rolling basis - Less Wrong
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"We increasingly have a useful, though informal, career network for folks interested in earning and donating"
I wonder if people will soon start applying to this SIAI program just as a means to get into the Silicon Valley job market?
Not that it would be a negative thing (great instead!), if they anyway are useful while in the program and perhaps even value the network they receive enough to donate to SIAI simply for keeping it...
This brings up an interesting point in my mind. There are so many smart people surrounding the discussion of existential risk that there must be a better way for them to cohesively raise money than just asking for donations. Starting an 'inner circle' to help people land high paying jobs is a start, but maybe it could be taken to the next level. What if we actively funded startups, ala Y Combinator, but in a more selective fashion, really picking out the brightest stars?
You have to work out internal rates of return for both sorts of project, taking into account available data, overconfidence and other biases, etc. If you spend $50,000 on VC investments, what annual return do you expect? 30% return on investment, up there with the greatest VCs around? Then consider research or other projects (like the Singularity Summit) that could mobilize additional brainpower and financial resources to work on the problem. How plausible is it that you can get a return of more than 50% there?
There is a reasonably efficient capital market, but there isn't an efficient charitable market. However, on the entrepreneurship front, check out Rolf Nelson.
... making the Singularity seem even more like a cult. We'll help you get a good job! Just make sure to tithe 10% of your income.
I'm totally OK with this though.
Does it help that the "tithe 10% of your income" is to an effect in the world (existential risk reduction) rather than to a specific organization (SIAI)? FHI contributions, or the effective building of new projects, are totally allied.
I'm OK with donating to SIAI in particular, even if the single existential risk my funding went towards is preventing run away AIs. What makes the biggest difference for me is having met some of the people, having read some of their writing, and in general believing that they are substantially more dedicated to solving a problem than to just preserving an organization set up to solve that problem.
The Catholic Church asks that you tithe 10% of your income, and it's not even a quid pro quo.
Yes, there's that.
In these comparisons it's good to remember, though, that all the most respected universities also value their alumni donating to the university.