Maybe he trusts himself to see when things are getting risky, and having a share buys him leverage over the direction of the company.
Alternatively, he simply thinks of SIAI’s stuff as important background research to have in place, but doesn’t think we’re anywhere near building AGI anytime soon.
How does Thiel square this with his support of SI?
I assumed Thiel had enough money to throw a million here or a million there at anything he thought was interesting, and that that was what he did.
Brainstorm time!
He doesn’t. Always an option.
He thinks it will have low risk of self-improving AI, and will have positive impacts directly or from innovation or from changing culture.
He thinks it will lead to earlier self-improving AI, but thinks SI will be ready.
He thinks it will lead to earlier self-improving AI, and thinks of SI as just a hedge.
Could influence, but to me he have strong sense with projects who are apparently radical, for scientific reasons or for academic ones.
I thought Thiel donates to SI simply because Yudkowsky is his friend.
Maybe he trusts himself to see when things are getting risky, and having a share buys him leverage over the direction of the company.
Alternatively, he simply thinks of SIAI’s stuff as important background research to have in place, but doesn’t think we’re anywhere near building AGI anytime soon.