I do think it unlikely and surprising if FLI funds were simply directed into the MIRI technical research agenda.
FLI’s request for proposals links to their research priorities document, which cites 4 MIRI papers and states, “Research in this area [...] could extend or
critique existing approaches begun by groups such as the Machine Intelligence Research Institute [76].” (Note that [76] is MIRI’s technical agenda document.)
So obviously they don’t think MIRI’s current research is a waste of resources or should be deprioritized. If they end up not funding any MIRI projects, I would think it probably has more to do with MIRI having enough funding from other sources than any disagreements between FLI and MIRI over research directions.
FLI’s request for proposals links to their research priorities document, which cites 4 MIRI papers and states, “Research in this area [...] could extend or critique existing approaches begun by groups such as the Machine Intelligence Research Institute [76].” (Note that [76] is MIRI’s technical agenda document.)
So obviously they don’t think MIRI’s current research is a waste of resources or should be deprioritized. If they end up not funding any MIRI projects, I would think it probably has more to do with MIRI having enough funding from other sources than any disagreements between FLI and MIRI over research directions.