This episode continues the fascinating-slash-frightening journey I’ve been on with you, to understand what we should prioritise as we face potential existential end times. Today’s guest, Harvard researcher and philanthropist Holden Karnofsky, brings the AI, effective altruism, longtermism and anti-growth debates together with the clarion call: “This is our moment, this century is make-or-break, pay attention people!” It’s not an idle or hysterical call, it’s one that Holden has researched extensively and is backed by global leaders in the space.
As some background: Holden founded Givewell, the charity evaluator that has raised more than $US1billion for charities that have saved more than 150,000 lives (Bill Gates, Sam Harris and the now disgraced billionaire Sam Bankman-Fried use it) and Open Philanthropy investigates more speculative causes. So if this is the most important century, what does it mean for us? What are our responsibilities? What’s going to happen? Buckle up, says Holden, because, “we live in wild times and should be ready for anything to happen”.
Here’s the "most important century" blog post series we talk about.
I also flag Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro. As well as this Vice article about how scientists can’t explain how AI works.
You might also want to go back and listen to the episodes with Peter Singer on effective altruism, Will Macaskill on Longtermism and Elise Bohan on misaligned AI and transhumanism.
.....
If you need to know a bit more about me… head to my "about" page.
Subscribe to my Substack newsletter for more such conversation.
Get your copy of my book, This One Wild and Precious Life
Let’s connect on Instagram! It’s where I interact the most.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
JOSH SZEPS: In which the Joe Rogan regular interviews ME!
A.C. GRAYLING: How to have your own life philosophy
ANDREW QUILTY: “I chose to live in a war zone” (possibly the most intimate pod chat so far)
MARK O’CONNELL: Meet the apocalypse preppers
WILLIAM MACASKILL: On “longtermism” and moral responsibility
ROB HENDERSON: Woke “luxury beliefs” are the new Birkins and Bentleys
Ask Me Anything: In which British National Treasure Melissa Hemsley fires your questions at me
KATHERINE MAY: The power of “Wintering”
DAVID FULLER: Sensemaking 101
DAVID WALLACE-WELLS: “The climate crisis might not be as bad as we thought” (a slight retraction)
KYLIE MOORE-GILBERT: How to survive 804 days captured and tortured by Iranian militants
JOSEPH HENRICH: You are weird! Here’s the scientist who can explain why
LECH BLAINE: The death of "blokes" (strap in for this one!)
JULIA CAMERON: How to live the artist's way
PROF GEORGE PAXINOS: Are our brains "good" enough to save the planet?
SHEENA IYENGAR: How to choose the best option
THIS WILD ELECTION: EP 12, Last thoughts…with Betoota Advocate
THIS WILD ELECTION: EP 11, Why we must vote for a First Nations Voice, with Prof Megan Davis
THIS WILD ELECTION: EP 10, How will a hung Parliament work? Will it be chaos? Tony Windsor sets us straight
THIS WILD ELECTION: EP 9, Who has the best policies for women with Jane Caro and CheekMedia's Kristen Perissinotto
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Modern West
Hamish & Andy
The Howie Games
Motley Fool Money
Just the Gist
The Briefing