My experience has been that we are clearly funding constrained, particularly in a post FTX world. This makes it hard to recruit top talent and is likely driving people out of alignment research.
(All opinions expressed are my own. Details of examples have been changed. None of these stories directly concern experiences with my own funding. I currently have active grant applications which has incentivised me to make this comment less harsh than it probably should be.)
I’m aware of researchers who have turned down extremely prestigious careers to pursue alignment, been promised certain amounts of funding and then had that funding substantially delayed.
I’m aware of researchers with funding giving cash loans to other researchers who were experiencing funding delays.
Such an environment does not bode well for convincing people to stick to alignment. No adult with responsibilities feels secure working contract to contract.
Beyond that, alignment salaries are smaller than what you would make in tech. This makes it difficult to poach senior talent from FAAMG.
My experience has been that we are clearly funding constrained, particularly in a post FTX world. This makes it hard to recruit top talent and is likely driving people out of alignment research.
(All opinions expressed are my own. Details of examples have been changed. None of these stories directly concern experiences with my own funding. I currently have active grant applications which has incentivised me to make this comment less harsh than it probably should be.)
I’m aware of researchers who have turned down extremely prestigious careers to pursue alignment, been promised certain amounts of funding and then had that funding substantially delayed.
I’m aware of researchers with funding giving cash loans to other researchers who were experiencing funding delays.
Such an environment does not bode well for convincing people to stick to alignment. No adult with responsibilities feels secure working contract to contract.
Beyond that, alignment salaries are smaller than what you would make in tech. This makes it difficult to poach senior talent from FAAMG.