I think the good impact vs capturing the results is a really good focus, especially as it relates to the conundrum of the physicists not controlling the weapons they create. I think that generalizes to the problem of knowing which things will go on to be beneficial vs harmful and knowing how to create technology and systems that are robust to downstream tampering that would affect how beneficial vs harmful they are.
As an example, I feel we should have identified the internet and social media as being like public infrastructure and taken steps to make sure they were produced focusing on public good rather than profit. I think many social media companies were founded with public good and pro-social, pro-communication goals, but then once they got bought by profit seeking entities they began to include more an more harmful user lock in, perverse marketing and other similar kinds of issues.
I think the good impact vs capturing the results is a really good focus, especially as it relates to the conundrum of the physicists not controlling the weapons they create. I think that generalizes to the problem of knowing which things will go on to be beneficial vs harmful and knowing how to create technology and systems that are robust to downstream tampering that would affect how beneficial vs harmful they are.
As an example, I feel we should have identified the internet and social media as being like public infrastructure and taken steps to make sure they were produced focusing on public good rather than profit. I think many social media companies were founded with public good and pro-social, pro-communication goals, but then once they got bought by profit seeking entities they began to include more an more harmful user lock in, perverse marketing and other similar kinds of issues.