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.
… 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.