Chris Scammell

Mental Health and the Alignment Problem: A Compilation of Resources (updated April 2023)

This is a post about mental health and disposition in relation to the alignment problem. It compiles a number of resources that address how to maintain wellbeing and direction when confronted with existential risk. Many people in this community have posted their emotional strategies for facing Doom after Eliezer Yudkowsky’s “Death With Dignity” generated so much conversation on the subject. This post intends to be more touchy-feely, dealing more directly with emotional landscapes than questions of timelines or probabilities of success. The resources section would benefit from community additions. Please suggest any resources that you would like to see added to this post. Please note that this document is not intended to replace professional medical or psychological help in any way. Many preexisting mental health conditions can be exacerbated by these conversations. If you are concerned that you may be experiencing a mental health crisis, please consult a professional. Preface to the 2nd Edition This post was released in April 2022 under the same title. This April 2023 update features new resources in every section, with a particular emphasis on the Alignment Positions and People Resources sections. Within each section, resources have been thematically categorized for easier access. Following the large capabilities leaps in the past year, these resources seem more important than ever. If you have suggestions for improving this post, for making it more accessible, or for new resources to add, please leave a comment or reach out to either Chris Scammell or DivineMango. We hope you are all well and that you find this update helpful. Introduction There is no right way to emotionally respond to the reality of approaching superintelligent AI, our collective responsibility to align it with our values, or the fact that we might not succeed. As transformative AI approaches, we must ensure that we have the tools and resources to be okay. Here, the valence of “be ok

267May 10, 2023

Chris Scammell

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1081

Thinking vs Unfolding

Jake vs Boss My friend Jake has a difficult boss. Well, kind-of-boss. They're technically co-founders, but the equity split, titles (CEO vs COO), and age/seniority difference put Jake in the junior position. It's been three years of grinding together on the startup, and this year-end, Jake's boss told him "Look,...

Jan 1267

Heaven, Hell, and Mechanics

These frames are all justified: * Hell: The world is burning around us right now, with loved ones and strangers suffering. * Heaven: It is amazing, and enough, just to be conscious and here for this very moment. * Mechanics: There is a law to things, to how this unfolds,...

Oct 8, 202546

The Buddhism & AI Initiative

Today the Buddhism & AI Initiative goes public, a collaborative effort to bring together Buddhist communities, technologists, and contemplative researchers worldwide to help shape the future of artificial intelligence. This initial effort is support by FLI and being led by: * Me, Chris Scammell (recently COO of Conjecture) * Peter...

Aug 22, 202529

The Compendium, A full argument about extinction risk from AGI

We (Connor Leahy, Gabriel Alfour, Chris Scammell, Andrea Miotti, Adam Shimi) have just published The Compendium, which brings together in a single place the most important arguments that drive our models of the AGI race, and what we need to do to avoid catastrophe. We felt that something like this...

Oct 31, 2024196

Mental Health and the Alignment Problem: A Compilation of Resources (updated April 2023)

May 10, 2023267

Japan AI Alignment Conference Postmortem

The goal Conjecture collaborated with Araya to host a two day AI Safety conference in Japan, the first Japan AI Alignment Conference (“JAC2023”). Our aim was to put together a small 30-40 person event to generate excitement around alignment for researchers in Japan and fuel new ideas for research topics....

Apr 20, 202371

Japan AI Alignment Conference

Conjecture and ARAYA are hosting and organizing the first Japan AI Alignment Conference. The conference will take place in Tokyo, Japan on March 11 and 12. Details about the event can be found here. This event is generously supported by a grant from the Long Term Future Fund. The goal...

Mar 10, 202364

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Chris Scammell

Chris Scammell

Chris Scammell

Mental Health and the Alignment Problem: A Compilation of Resources (updated April 2023)

The Compendium, A full argument about extinction risk from AGI

Conjecture: a retrospective after 8 months of work

Conjecture: Internal Infohazard Policy

Chris Scammell

Thinking vs Unfolding

Heaven, Hell, and Mechanics

The Buddhism & AI Initiative

The Compendium, A full argument about extinction risk from AGI

Mental Health and the Alignment Problem: A Compilation of Resources (updated April 2023)

Japan AI Alignment Conference Postmortem

Japan AI Alignment Conference

Mental Health and the Alignment Problem: A Compilation of Resources (updated April 2023)

The Compendium, A full argument about extinction risk from AGI

Conjecture: a retrospective after 8 months of work

Conjecture: Internal Infohazard Policy

Thinking vs Unfolding

Heaven, Hell, and Mechanics

The Buddhism & AI Initiative

The Compendium, A full argument about extinction risk from AGI

Mental Health and the Alignment Problem: A Compilation of Resources (updated April 2023)

Japan AI Alignment Conference Postmortem

Japan AI Alignment Conference