What should the Effective Altruism movement learn from the SBF / FTX scandal? (with Will MacAskill)

Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg 2024年07月16日

../../../zaker_core/zaker_tpl_static/wap/tpl_guoji1.html

This article explores the complexities surrounding Sam Bankman-Fried, FTX, and the impact of the FTX collapse on the Effective Altruism (EA) movement. It delves into questions about SBF's personality, his commitment to EA principles, and the potential red flags that should have been recognized. The article also examines the role of EA leadership in this situation, the lessons learned, and the future direction of the movement. It concludes by discussing potential dangers of AI beyond alignment and the role of AI in the EA movement.

🤔 **Sam Bankman-Fried's Personality and Actions**: This article explores the complex nature of Sam Bankman-Fried's personality and the factors that may have contributed to the FTX collapse. It delves into questions surrounding his commitment to EA principles, potential red flags, and the extent to which his personality and actions may have been problematic. It examines whether his actions were driven by naivety, lack of empathy, or other factors.

🤔 **The Role of Effective Altruism**: The article analyzes the role of the Effective Altruism (EA) movement in this situation. It examines whether EA leadership should bear any responsibility for the FTX collapse, explores the lessons learned from the experience, and discusses the future direction of the EA movement. It also considers the implications of this event for the credibility and reputation of the EA community.

🤔 **The Future of AI and EA**: The article discusses the potential dangers of AI beyond alignment, such as the misuse of AI for malicious purposes or the development of AI systems that are too powerful for humans to control. It explores whether AI should become the central or sole focus of the EA movement and the ethical implications of such a focus.

Read the full transcript here.

What are the facts around Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX about which all parties agree? What was the nature of Will's relationship with SBF? What things, in retrospect, should've been red flags about Sam or FTX? Was Sam's personality problematic? Did he ever really believe in EA principles? Does he lack empathy? Or was he on the autism spectrum? Was he naive in his application of utilitarianism? Did EA intentionally install SBF as a spokesperson, or did he put himself in that position of his own accord? What lessons should EA leaders learn from this? What steps should be taken to prevent it from happening again? What should EA leadership look like moving forward? What are some of the dangers around AI that are not related to alignment? Should AI become the central (or even the sole) focus of the EA movement?

William MacAskill is an associate professor in philosophy at the University of Oxford. At the time of his appointment, he was the youngest associate professor of philosophy in the world. He also cofounded the nonprofits Giving What We Can, the Centre for Effective Altruism, and 80,000 Hours, which together have moved over $300 million to effective charities. He's the author of What We Owe The Future, Doing Good Better, and Moral Uncertainty.

Further reading:

Episode 133: The FTX catastrophe (with Byrne Hobart, Vipul Naik, Maomao Hu, Marcus Abramovich, and Ozzie Gooen)

"Who is Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) really, and how could he have done what he did? – three theories and a lot of evidence"

Why They Do It: Inside the Mind of the White-Collar Criminal by Eugene Soltes

Staff

Music