Language requirement is research proficiency in English.
We anticipate that an applicant is dedicated to alleviating and preventing suffering, and considers it the top global priority.
A successful applicant will probably have a background in quantitative topics such as game theory, decision theory, computer science, physics, or math. But we welcome applicants regardless of background.
Peer-reviewed publications or a track record of completed comparable research output is not required, but a plus.
There is no degree requirement, although a PhD is an advantage, all else equal.
Their open research questions include a number of AI-related ones, and I expect many of them to still have plenty of low-hanging fruit. I’m working on getting a better handle on hard takeoff scnearios in general; most of the my results so far can be found on my website under the “fri-funded” tag. (Haven’t posted anything new in a while, because I’m working on a larger article that’s been taking some time.)
Thanks! I hadn’t come across the Foundational Research Institute yet.
Though, hmm, not plenty of experience? If there’s talk about PhDs as an advantage, it sounds to me like they’re looking for people with PhD-level experience. I’m far from that. But unless you say »oh well then maybe not«, I’ll apply. Who knows what will come out of it.
I don’t have a PhD either, and I know of at least one other person who’d been discussing working for them who was also very far from having that level of experience.
Will your results ultimately take the form of blog posts such as those, or peer-reviewed publications, or something else?
I think FRI’s research agenda is interesting and that they may very well work on important questions that hardly anyone else does, but I haven’t yet supported them as I’m not certain about their ability to deliver actual results or the impact of their research, and find it a tad bit odd that it’s supported by effective altruism organizations, since I don’t see any demonstration of effectiveness so far. (No offence though, it looks promising.)
The final output of this project will be a long article, either on FRI’s website or a peer-reviewed publication or both; we haven’t decided on that yet.
I’m currently working on an AI strategy project for the Foundational Research Institute; they are hiring and do not require plenty of experience:
Their open research questions include a number of AI-related ones, and I expect many of them to still have plenty of low-hanging fruit. I’m working on getting a better handle on hard takeoff scnearios in general; most of the my results so far can be found on my website under the “fri-funded” tag. (Haven’t posted anything new in a while, because I’m working on a larger article that’s been taking some time.)
Thanks! I hadn’t come across the Foundational Research Institute yet.
Though, hmm, not plenty of experience? If there’s talk about PhDs as an advantage, it sounds to me like they’re looking for people with PhD-level experience. I’m far from that. But unless you say »oh well then maybe not«, I’ll apply. Who knows what will come out of it.
I don’t have a PhD either, and I know of at least one other person who’d been discussing working for them who was also very far from having that level of experience.
Will your results ultimately take the form of blog posts such as those, or peer-reviewed publications, or something else?
I think FRI’s research agenda is interesting and that they may very well work on important questions that hardly anyone else does, but I haven’t yet supported them as I’m not certain about their ability to deliver actual results or the impact of their research, and find it a tad bit odd that it’s supported by effective altruism organizations, since I don’t see any demonstration of effectiveness so far. (No offence though, it looks promising.)
The final output of this project will be a long article, either on FRI’s website or a peer-reviewed publication or both; we haven’t decided on that yet.