Michael Aird's guest appearances

Michael Aird

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Michael Aird is a senior research manager at Rethink Priorities, where he co-leads the Artificial Intelligence Governance and Strategy team alongside Amanda El-Dakhakhni. Before that, he conducted nuclear risk research for Rethink Priorities and longtermist macrostrategy research for Convergence Analysis, the Center on Long-Term Risk, and the Future of Humanity Institute, which is where we know each other from. Before that, he was a teacher and a stand up comedian. He previously spoke to us about impact-driven research on Episode 52. In this episode, we talk about:  The basic case for working on existential risk from AI How to begin figuring out what to do to reduce the risks Threat models for the risks of advanced AI 'Theories of victory' for how the world mitigates the risks 'Intermediate goals' in AI governance What useful (and less useful) research looks like for reducing AI x-risk Practical advice for usefully contributing to efforts to reduce existential risk from AI Resources for getting started and finding job openings  Key links:  Apply to be a Compute Governance Researcher or Research Assistant at Rethink Priorities (applications open until June 12, 2023) Rethink Priority's survey on intermediate goals in AI governance The Rethink Priorities newsletter The Rethink Priorities tab on the Effective Altruism Forum Some AI Governance Research Ideas compiled by Markus Anderljung &amp; Alexis Carlier Strategic Perspectives on Long-term AI Governance by Matthijs Maas Michael's posts on the Effective Altruism Forum (under the username "MichaelA") The 80,000 Hours job board

Michael Aird is a senior research manager at <a href="https://www.rethinkpriorities.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rethink Priorities</a>, where he co-leads the Artificial Intelligence Governance and Strategy team alongside <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandaae" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amanda El-Dakhakhni</a>. Before that, he conducted nuclear risk research for Rethink Priorities and longtermist macrostrategy research for <a href="https://www.convergenceanalysis.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Convergence Analysis</a>, the <a href="https://longtermrisk.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Center on Long-Term Risk</a>, and the <a href="https://www.fhi.ox.ac.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Future of Humanity Institute</a>, which is where we know each other from. Before that, he was a teacher and a stand up comedian. He previously spoke to us about impact-driven research on <a href="https://hearthisidea.com/episodes/aird" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Episode 52</a>. In this episode, we talk about: <ul> <li>The basic case for working on existential risk from AI</li> <li>How to begin figuring out what to do to reduce the risks</li> <li>Threat models for the risks of advanced AI</li> <li>'Theories of victory' for how the world mitigates the risks</li> <li>'Intermediate goals' in AI governance</li> <li>What useful (and less useful) research looks like for reducing AI x-risk</li> <li>Practical advice for usefully contributing to efforts to reduce existential risk from AI</li> <li>Resources for getting started and finding job openings</li> </ul> Key links: <ul> <li>Apply to be a <a href="https://careers.rethinkpriorities.org/en/postings/f553d816-53ef-40e6-84bb-257d550ec52b" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Compute Governance Researcher or Research Assistant</a> at Rethink Priorities (applications open until June 12, 2023)</li> <li>Rethink Priority's <a href="https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/g4fXhiJyj6tdBhuBK/survey-on-intermediate-goals-in-ai-governance" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">survey on intermediate goals in AI governance</a></li> <li>The <a href="https://rethinkpriorities.org/newsletter" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rethink Priorities newsletter</a></li> <li>The <a href="https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/topics/rethink-priorities" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rethink Priorities tab</a> on the Effective Altruism Forum</li> <li><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/13LJhP3ksrcEBKxYFG5GkJaC2UoxHKUYAHCRdRlpePEc/edit#" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Some AI Governance Research Ideas</a> compiled by Markus Anderljung &amp; Alexis Carlier</li> <li><a href="https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/s/xTkejiJHFsidZ9hMo" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Strategic Perspectives on Long-term AI Governance</a> by Matthijs Maas</li> <li><a href="https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/users/michaela" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Michael's posts on the Effective Altruism Forum</a> (under the username "MichaelA")</li> <li>The <a href="https://jobs.80000hours.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">80,000 Hours job board</a></li></ul>

#64 – Michael Aird on Strategies for Reducing AI Existential Risk

Research can be hugely impactful, but almost all research isn't. One thing that can help maximize the impact of your research — including via improving your career trajectory — is developing an explicit theory of change. In this workshop, Michael provides an overview of what theories of change are, why they’re often useful for research, how to build one, and will provide an opportunity to practice applying these concepts. (It’s helpful, though not required, to watch the workshop with a research project idea in mind.)Effective Altruism is a social movement dedicated to finding ways to do the most good possible, whether through charitable donations, career choices, or volunteer projects. EA Global conferences are gatherings for EAs to meet. You can also listen to this talk along with its accompanying video on YouTube. 

Research can be hugely impactful, but almost all research isn't. One thing that can help maximize the impact of your research — including via improving your career trajectory — is developing an explicit theory of change. In this workshop, Michael provides an overview of what theories of change are, why they’re often useful for research, how to build one, and will provide an opportunity to practice applying these concepts. (It’s helpful, though not required, to watch the workshop with a research project idea in mind.) <a href="https://www.effectivealtruism.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Effective Altruism</a> is a social movement dedicated to finding ways to do the most good possible, whether through charitable donations, career choices, or volunteer projects. <a href="https://www.eaglobal.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EA Global</a> conferences are gatherings for EAs to meet. You can also listen to this talk along with its accompanying video on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/EffectiveAltruismVideos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.

Workshop: Building a Theory of Change for Your Research | Michael Aird | EAG DC 22

Q&amp;A session with Michael Aird, Senior Research Manager at Rethink Priorities and guest fund manager at the EA Infrastructure Fund.Effective Altruism is a social movement dedicated to finding ways to do the most good possible, whether through charitable donations, career choices, or volunteer projects. EA Global conferences are gatherings for EAs to meet. You can also listen to this talk along with its accompanying video on YouTube. 

Q&amp;A session with Michael Aird, Senior Research Manager at Rethink Priorities and guest fund manager at the EA Infrastructure Fund.<a href="https://www.effectivealtruism.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Effective Altruism</a> is a social movement dedicated to finding ways to do the most good possible, whether through charitable donations, career choices, or volunteer projects. <a href="https://www.eaglobal.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EA Global</a> conferences are gatherings for EAs to meet. You can also listen to this talk along with its accompanying video on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/EffectiveAltruismVideos" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>.

Fireside chat with Michael Aird | EAGxVirtual 2022

Michael Aird is a senior research manager at Rethink Priorities, where he co-leads the Artificial Intelligence Governance and Strategy team alongside Amanda El-Dakhakhni. Before that, he conducted nuclear risk research for Rethink Priorities and longtermist macrostrategy research for Convergence Analysis, the Center on Long-Term Risk, and the Future of Humanity Institute, which is where we know each other from. Before that, he was a teacher and a stand up comedian.We discuss:  Whether you should stay in academia if you want to do impactful research How to start looking for roles at impact-driven research organisations What simple changes can improve how you write about your research The uses of 'reductionism' and quantitative thinking The concept of ‘reasoning transparency’ Michael’s experience investigating nuclear security  Key links:  Michael's posts on the EA Forum Interested in EA/longtermist research careers? Here are my top recommended resources Don’t think, just apply! (usually) List of EA funding opportunities Rethink Priorities Reasoning Transparency A central directory for open research questions  You can find more links, and read the full transcript, in this episode's write-up: hearthisidea.com/episodes/aird. If you have any feedback, you can get a free book for filling out our new feedback form. You can also get in touch through our website or on Twitter. Consider leaving us a review wherever you're listening to this — it's the best free way to support the show. Thanks for listening!

Michael Aird is a senior research manager at <a href="https://www.rethinkpriorities.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rethink Priorities</a>, where he co-leads the Artificial Intelligence Governance and Strategy team alongside <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandaae" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amanda El-Dakhakhni</a>. Before that, he conducted nuclear risk research for Rethink Priorities and longtermist macrostrategy research for <a href="https://www.convergenceanalysis.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Convergence Analysis</a>, the <a href="https://longtermrisk.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Center on Long-Term Risk</a>, and the <a href="https://www.fhi.ox.ac.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Future of Humanity Institute</a>, which is where we know each other from. Before that, he was a teacher and a stand up comedian. We discuss: <ul> <li>Whether you should stay in academia if you want to do impactful research</li> <li>How to start looking for roles at impact-driven research organisations</li> <li>What simple changes can improve how you write about your research</li> <li>The uses of 'reductionism' and quantitative thinking</li> <li>The concept of ‘reasoning transparency’</li> <li>Michael’s experience investigating nuclear security</li> </ul> Key links: <ul> <li><a href="https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/users/michaela" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Michael's posts</a> on the EA Forum</li> <li><a href="https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/Na6pkfpZrfyKBhEcp/interested-in-ea-longtermist-research-careers-here-are-my" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Interested in EA/longtermist research careers? Here are my top recommended resources</a></li> <li><a href="https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/Fahv9knHhPi6pWPEB/don-t-think-just-apply-usually" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Don’t think, just apply! (usually)</a></li> <li><a href="https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/DqwxrdyQxcMQ8P2rD/list-of-ea-funding-opportunities" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">List of EA funding opportunities</a></li> <li><a href="https://rethinkpriorities.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Rethink Priorities</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.openphilanthropy.org/research/reasoning-transparency/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Reasoning Transparency</a></li> <li><a href="https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/MsNpJBzv5YhdfNHc9/a-central-directory-for-open-research-questions" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">A central directory for open research questions</a></li> </ul> You can find more links, and read the full transcript, in this episode's write-up: <a href="https://hearthisidea.com/episodes/aird" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">hearthisidea.com/episodes/aird</a>. If you have any feedback, you can get a free book for filling out our <a href="https://tally.so/r/nPd680" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">new feedback form</a>. You can also get in touch through our <a href="https://hearthisidea.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">website</a> or <a href="https://www.twitter.com/hearthisidea" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">on Twitter</a>. Consider leaving us a review wherever you're listening to this — it's the best free way to support the show. Thanks for listening!