Is it an option to keep your current job but but spend your research hours on AI Safety instead of quarks? Is this something that would appealing to you + acceptable to your employer?
Given the current AI safety funding situation, I would strongly reccomend not giving up your current income.
I think that a lot of the pressure towards street light research comes from the funding situation. The grants are short and to stay in the game you need visible results quickly.
I think MATS could be good, if you can treat it as exploration, but not so good if you’re in a hurry to get a job or a grant directly afterwards. Since MATS is 3 months of full time, it might not fit into your schedule (without quitting your job). Maybe instead try SPAR. Or see here for more options.
Or you can skip the training program route, and just start reading on your own. There’s lots and lots of AI safety reding lists. I reccomend this one for you. @Lucius Bushnaq who created and maintains it, also did quark physics, before switching to AI Safety. But if you don’t like it, there are more options here under “Self studies”.
In general, the funding situation in AI safety is pretty shit right now, but other than that, there are so many resources to help people get started. It’s just a matter of choosing where to start.
My current job is only offered to me on the condition that I am doing physics research. I have some flexibility to do other things at the same time though. The insights and resources you list seem useful to me, so thank you.
Is it an option to keep your current job but but spend your research hours on AI Safety instead of quarks? Is this something that would appealing to you + acceptable to your employer?
Given the current AI safety funding situation, I would strongly reccomend not giving up your current income.
I think that a lot of the pressure towards street light research comes from the funding situation. The grants are short and to stay in the game you need visible results quickly.
I think MATS could be good, if you can treat it as exploration, but not so good if you’re in a hurry to get a job or a grant directly afterwards. Since MATS is 3 months of full time, it might not fit into your schedule (without quitting your job). Maybe instead try SPAR. Or see here for more options.
Or you can skip the training program route, and just start reading on your own. There’s lots and lots of AI safety reding lists. I reccomend this one for you. @Lucius Bushnaq who created and maintains it, also did quark physics, before switching to AI Safety. But if you don’t like it, there are more options here under “Self studies”.
In general, the funding situation in AI safety is pretty shit right now, but other than that, there are so many resources to help people get started. It’s just a matter of choosing where to start.
(I have not maintained this list in many months, sorry.)
That’s still pretty good. Most reading lists are not updated at all after publication.
My current job is only offered to me on the condition that I am doing physics research. I have some flexibility to do other things at the same time though. The insights and resources you list seem useful to me, so thank you.
Ok, in that case I want to give you this post as inspiration.
Changing the world through slack & hobbies — LessWrong