Alexander Sahn on Exclusionary Zoning Welcome to Abundance, a Metropolitan Abundance podcast where we chat with the academics, researchers, and practitioners who inspire and inform our work. Welcome back to Abundance! In this episode of Abundance, Ned Resnikoff chats with…. The post Episode 18 appeared first on California YIMBY.
Authors: Senthooran Rajamanoharan*, Arthur Conmy*, Lewis Smith, Tom Lieberum, Vikrant Varma, János Kramár, Rohin Shah, Neel Nanda. A new paper from the Google DeepMind mech interp team: Improving Dictionary Learning with Gated Sparse Autoencoders! .
Malaria is massive. Our World in Data writes: “Over half a million people died from the disease each year in the 2010s. Most were children, and the disease is one of the leading causes of child mortality.” Or, as Rob Mather, CEO of the Against Malaria Foundation (AMF) phrases it: the equivalent of seven jumbo jets full of children die of Malaria each day.
In human history, one in two children died prematurely, before becoming an adult. Today, one in twenty humans die before the age of 15. Somalia, where half of the population lives in extreme poverty, has the highest child mortality rate … Lees verder →...
"People with vaginas"? Well, maybe
In-ovo sexing is a new technology with a strong potential to halt chick culling. This article reports its current availability in the European Union. The post Tracking In-Ovo Sexing Progress In The E.U. appeared first on Faunalytics.
Dairy cows at an operation in Lodi, California, in 2020. | Jessica Christian/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images
The US Department of Agriculture’s failed response to bird flu in cows, explained. Bird flu has had a busy couple of years.
Summary: Where there’s overfishing, reducing fishing pressure or harvest rates — roughly the share of the population or biomass caught in a fishery per fishing period — actually allows more animals to be caught in the long run.
The web has become so interwoven with everyday life that it is easy to forget what an extraordinary accomplishment and treasure it is. In just a few decades, much of human knowledge has been collectively written up and made available to anyone with an internet connection. But all of this is coming to an end.
Photo credit should read Umer Qadir/ Eyepix Group/Future Publishing via Getty Images
It is almost hard to believe just how effective vaccines are at saving infants’ lives. The world has become a much safer place to be a young child in the last 50 years. Since 1974, infant mortality worldwide has plummeted. That year, one in 10 newborns died before reaching their first birthday.
Despite being preventable and treatable, malaria threatens the lives of 3.2 billion people around the world. Every year, the disease accounts for hundreds of thousands of deaths, the majority of which are in sub-Saharan Africa.
25th of April 2024 marks the annual World Malaria Day, an opportunity for the worldwide malaria community to share information about differing approaches toward malaria eradication, celebrate milestones in research, and highlight the ongoing need for funding and political support in the fight against malaria. Our theme for this year’s World Malaria Day is “Gender, […].
We recently published a new core career advice series. It provides a concise, accessible intro to some of the most important ideas for planning an impactful career. Check it out on our site!. What is the core advice series?. The core advice series distills the most important ideas from our in-depth career guide and repackages them with a more accessible framing.
Crossposted from world spirit sock puppet. It seems to me worth trying to slow down AI development to steer successfully around the shoals of extinction and out to utopia. But I was thinking lately: even if I didn’t think there … Continue reading →...
It seems to me worth trying to slow down AI development to steer successfully around the shoals of extinction and out to utopia. But I was thinking lately: even if I didn’t think there was any chance of extinction risk, it might still be worth prioritizing a lot of care over moving at maximal speed.
There are institutional incentives that make contrarian views that catch on mostly wrong.
As you may have noticed, 80k After Hours has been releasing a new show where I and some other 80k staff sit down with a guest for a very free form, informal, video(!) discussion that sometimes touches on topical themes around EA and sometimes… strays a bit further afield.
Guest post by Hashem Elassad. Edited by Travis. The Nobel Prize recipient and father of modern neuroscience who was integral to our...
We had four Canadian academic leaders sharing their thoughts on where the cell ag industry stands today. If you missed out, we've got you covered! Here are the key takeaways from the discussion. The post Key Takeaways from our Second Cell Ag in Canada Virtual Series Event appeared first on New Harvest.
Welcome to the April 24, 2024 Main edition of The Homework, the official newsletter of California YIMBY — legislative updates, news clips, housing research and analysis, and the latest writings from the California YIMBY team. News from Sacramento The legislative…. The post The HomeWork: April <span class="dewidow">24, 2024</span> appeared first on California YIMBY.
In which I shill. Also a more general case for being a paid subscriber to blogs you like.
AI 'Summer School' and Roles Perfect for Consultants | EACN Job Blast #35🚀
Check out these high-impact roles, we're here to help you map out your next career move! | EACN Job Blast #35🚀
View this email in your browser
EACN's High-Impact Job Blast
The Effective Altruism Consulting Network team knows that...
As intensive industrial farming grows across Africa, second-hand battery cages pose a threat to egg-laying hens and animal welfare progress across the continent. The post Africa’s Second-Hand Battery Cage Dilemma appeared first on Faunalytics.
Researchers analyzed animal product consumption using data from purchases made at 411 Tesco supermarkets across London, and found that July and August are the busiest times for meat consumption. The post Measuring Meat Consumption Trends Using Supermarket Data appeared first on Faunalytics.
Summary: For pandemics that aren’t ‘stealth’ pandemics (particularly globally catastrophic pandemics): Reason 1: Not All 'Detections' Are Made Equal: there can be significant variation in the level of information and certainty provided by different detection modalities (e.g.
A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky
A coyote in the El Capitan meadow area at sunrise in Yosemite National Park. | Mark Boster/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images
Your taxes fund an obscure government program that kills millions of wild animals to benefit Big Ag. A red fox killed with a cyanide bomb. A gray wolf gunned down from an airplane. A jackrabbit caught in a neck snare.
Our new residential seminar for 18 to 22-year-olds, during August 2024
Stay updated and inspired
Law professor Dan Solove has a new article on privacy regulation. In his email to me, he writes: “I’ve been pondering privacy consent for more than a decade, and I think I finally made a breakthrough with this article.” His mini-abstract: In this Article I argue that most of the time, privacy consent is fictitious.
EA Forum Digest #186
Hello!. CEA is hiring for a Program Lead for EA Global. Apply here. Also, if you benefit from the weekly Forum Digest, we'd love it if you left us some feedback (we learn from both critique and compliments). — Toby (for the Forum team)
We recommend:
Part of our 80/20 series. sit on a cushion for 20 mins per day. focus on your sensory experiences (touch, sight, smell, sound). Try to perceive them as accurately as possible . footnotes: is that really all? on one level, yes -- both in the sense that. .
In a recent announcement, Manifold Markets say they will change the exchange rate for your play-money (called "Mana") from 1:100 to 1:1000. Importantly, one of the ways to use this Mana is to do charity donations. TLDR: The CTA here is to log in to your Manifold account and donate currency you have on your account before May 1st.
Epistemic status: party trick. Why remove the prior. One famed feature of Bayesian inference is that it involves prior probability distributions. Given an exhaustive collection of mutually exclusive ways the world could be (hereafter called ‘hypotheses’), one starts with a sense of how likely the world is to be described by each hypothesis, in the absence of any contingent relevant evidence.
Launched in 2022, the AI Policy Hub trains UC Berkeley researchers to develop effective governance and policy frameworks to guide artificial intelligence, today and into the future. Each…. The post 2023-2024 AI Policy Hub Fellows to Showcase Research appeared first on CLTC.
On March 19th, the Center for Long Term Cybersecurity hosted a talk by Shai Dhaliwal, a cybersecurity manager within Accenture’s Technology Services and Digital Transformation team. Drawing on more than a decade of experience working with both public- and private-sector organizations, Dhaliwal shared her perspectives on the role of consultants in helping organizations navigate the complex...
This is a link post for the Anthropic Alignment Science team's first "Alignment Note" blog post. We expect to use this format to showcase early-stage research and work-in-progress updates more in the future. Twitter thread here. Top-level summary:
Your existence points to God's existence
The Löwenheim–Skolem theorem implies, among other things, that any first-order theory whose symbols are countable, and which has an infinite model, has a countably infinite model. This means that, in attempting to refer to uncountably infinite structures (such as in set theory), one "may as well" be referring to an only countably infinite structure, as far as proofs are concerned.
Long Now talks with Jonathan Blake and Nils Gilman, authors of "Children of a Modest Star," about pandemics, climate change, and the planetary systems required to deal with them.
Abstract. This paper presents ProLU, an alternative to ReLU for the activation function in sparse autoencoders that produces a pareto improvement over both standard sparse autoencoders trained with an L1 penalty and sparse autoencoders trained with a Sqrt(L1) penalty. ProLU(mi,bi)={miif mi+bi>0 and mi>00otherwise. The gradient wrt.
Abstract. This paper presents ProLU, an alternative to ReLU for the activation function in sparse autoencoders that produces a pareto improvement over both standard sparse autoencoders trained with an L1 penalty and sparse autoencoders trained with a Sqrt(L1) penalty. ProLU(mi,bi)={miif mi+bi>0 and mi>00otherwise. The gradient wrt.
An abundance of climate and urban planning research has shown that urban sprawl is responsible for a significant share of global climate pollution. Sprawl requires longer trips in private vehicles, measured in “vehicle miles traveled,” or VMT. It also increases…. The post Housing Policy Is (Still) <span class="dewidow">Climate Policy</span> appeared first on California YIMBY.
Inclusionary Zoning (IZ), the practice of requiring home builders to set aside some units in new housing construction to be rented at below-market rates (BMR) to low-income households, is a popular strategy to increase the production of affordable housing while…. The post The Tradeoffs of Inclusionary Zoning: A <span class="dewidow">Closer Look</span> appeared first on California YIMBY.
To make men more accepting of veganism, should we describe vegan food using conventionally masculine words?. The post Changing Men’s Perceptions Of Veganism Through Framing appeared first on Faunalytics.
Project Officer, Behavior Change Unit - RFSA
admin_inox
Tue, 04/23/2024 - 15:30
vacancy_id
SYS-1167
location
Quelimane, Mozambique
Contract type
Permanent
Duration
Indefinite
Frontend apply URL
https://jobs.gainhealth.org/vacancies/1167/apply/
Closing date
Tue, 04/30/2024 - 12:00
Department
Programmes
about_the_role
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is...
Research Advisor, Market Research
admin_inox
Tue, 04/23/2024 - 15:00
vacancy_id
SYS-1166
location
This position is open to GAIN’s country offices in New Delhi, Nairobi and London. Contract type
Fixed Term
Duration
24 Months
Frontend apply URL
https://jobs.gainhealth.org/vacancies/1166/apply/
Closing date
Tue, 05/14/2024 - 12:00
Department
Research, monitoring and...
An open thread
Thanks go to Travis (from the Clearer Thinking team) for coauthoring this with me. This is a cross-post from Clearer Thinking. How can you tell who is a valid expert, and who is full of B.S.? On almost any topic of importance you can find a mix of valid experts (who are giving you reliable […]...
Procurement Manager
admin_inox
Tue, 04/23/2024 - 13:00
vacancy_id
SYS-1161
location
Nairobi, Kenya
Contract type
Fixed Term
Duration
24 Months
Frontend apply URL
https://jobs.gainhealth.org/vacancies/1161/apply/
Closing date
Tue, 04/30/2024 - 12:00
Department
Administration
about_the_role
The Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is seeking a Procurement Manager to...
Crosspost of my blog. You shouldn’t eat animals in normal circumstances. That much is, in my view, quite thoroughly obvious. Animals undergo cruel, hellish conditions that we’d confidently describe as torture if they were inflicted on a human (or even a dog). No hamburger is worth that kind of cruelty. However, not all animals are the same.
I’m an international security professional with experience conducting open source analysis, satellite imagery interpretation, and independent research, and I’m launching a new consulting organization, Earthnote! I’m really interested in applying my skills to the EA community and help to reduce existential threats to humanity, so let me know if I can help you/your org!.
Former senior White House cyber policy director A. J. Grotto talks about the economic incentives for companies to improve their security—in particular, Microsoft: Grotto told us Microsoft had to be “dragged kicking and screaming” to provide logging capabilities to the government by default, and given the fact the mega-corp banked around $20 billion in revenue from security services last year,...
A new study found that empathy among young Americans is rebounding after having reached worrying lows a decade ago. | Getty Images/iStockphoto
A decade ago, research showed a troubling dip in empathy. A new study provides more hope. Think back to the United States as it was a year ago, a decade ago, a generation ago. Is the US a more caring or less caring nation now than it was back then? .
Regulators should review the 2014 DeepMind acquisition. When Google bought DeepMind in 2014, no regulator, not the FTC, not the EC's DG COMP, nor the CMA, scrutinized the impact. Why? AI startups have high value but low revenues. And so they avoid regulation (and tax, see below).
We have created a new page on our website that provides details of recently published scientific articles covering the welfare of animals in markets, during transport, and at slaughter. The page can be found under ‘Publications’ and will be updated monthly. We hope it will provide an easy way for you to keep up-to-date with some of the latest publications in the field.
This blog was written collaboratively by Shana Warren, Associate Director of Path-to-Scale Research & Research Scientist at Innovations for Poverty Action, a research and policy NGO, and Katherine Theiss-Nyland, Malaria Consortium’s Technical Director. They share insights on the evidence driving the control and elimination of malaria and reflect on the most pressing challenges and promising …...
The complex story of Irish peat
This is an anonymous account (Ávila is not a real person). I am posting on this account to avoid potentially negative effects on my future job prospects. SUMMARY: I've been rejected from 18 jobs or internships, 12 of which are "in EA.".
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – From the university campuses of Assyria to the thoroughfares of Ur to the palaces of the Hittite Empire, students across the Fertile Crescent have formed human chains, camel caravans, and even makeshift tent cities to protest the oppression of innocent Egyptians by the rogue proto-nation of “Israel” and its vengeful, warlike […]...
Some things are said to be good servants but bad masters. Consider applying this warning to culture. Culture is humanity’s superpower; it is what makes humans so much more capable than other animals. When we know what outcomes we want, but not how to get them, culture helps us find and copy associates better at getting those outcomes, and then collectively improve our abilities.
Before we get started, this is your quarterly reminder that I have no medical credentials and my highest academic credential is a BA in a different part of biology (with a double major in computer science). In a world with a functional medical system no one would listen to me. Tl;dr povidone iodine probably reduces … Continue reading "Betadine oral rinses for covid and other viral infections"...
This post is easily the weirdest thing I've ever written. I also consider it the best I've ever written - I hope you give it a chance. If you're not sold by the first section, you can safely skip the rest. I.
If the activists of fifty years ago had known what we know now, what might they have done differently?
LOS ANGELES — On Saturday, April 20, more than 100 celebrities and influencers gathered with changemakers from around the world at The Mercy For Animals 25th Anniversary Gala ahead of Earth Day to celebrate Mercy For Animals’ history and the positive impact the organization has had on farmed animals, people’s lives and the planet. Many […].
In this post I first summarize a recent paper by Chad Jones focused on the decision to deploy AI that has the potential to increase both economic growth and existential risk (section 1). Jones offers some simple insights which I think could be interesting for effective altruists and may be influential for how policy-makers think about trade-offs related to existential risk.
The new National Semiconductor Technology Center can reshape America's semiconductor industry
Contra HWFO on morality
Interesting social-engineering attack vector: McAfee released a report on a new LUA malware loader distributed through what appeared to be a legitimate Microsoft GitHub repository for the “C++ Library Manager for Windows, Linux, and MacOS,” known as vcpkg.
The necessity of birth control
These authors explore the environmental and farmed animal welfare impacts of companion cat and dog diets compared to human diets. The post The Impacts Of Conventional Cat And Dog Food appeared first on Faunalytics.
All countries now have policies, but not all work as intended. Some drive trade-offs or lead to spillover impacts elsewhere, but there are many examples of successful stories.
April is Earth Month and a great time to start incorporating sustainable eating habits into your routine. If you’re looking for affordable ways to eat more plant-based, consider adding these six budget-friendly foods to your diet. They not only support a compassionate lifestyle but contribute to a more sustainable food system. 1. Seaweed Did you […].
Disclaimer: While I criticize several EA critics in this article, I am myself on the EA-skeptical side of things (especially on AI risk). Introduction. I am a proud critic of effective altruism, and in particular a critic of AI existential risk, but I have to admit that a lot of the critcism of EA is hostile, or lazy, and is extremely unlikely to convince a believer. Take this recent Leif...
Saad Siddiqui tracks the evolution of a key expert draft AI law
Christine Mi for Vox
The delightful abundance of going vegan.
Marina Bolotnikova is a deputy editor for Vox’s Future Perfect section. Before joining Vox, she reported on factory farming for national outlets including the Guardian, the Intercept, and elsewhere.
Christine Mi is a cartoonist, writer, and game designer focused on telling...
Originally posted by the Outreach Network For Gene Drive Research Malaria has a devastating impact, extending far beyond its direct threat to health and lives. It perpetuates a vicious cycle of inequity, creating additional challenges for communities and social groups already facing economic and societal issues. As the world gets together to celebrate World Malaria […].
The last ten years have witnessed rapid advances in the science of animal cognition and behavior. Striking results have hinted at surprisingly rich inner lives in a wide range of animals, driving renewed debate about animal consciousness.
Simple action stories depict conflict with an outsider villain/monster. In fighting that monster, the hero often gets help from their usual social allies, such as friends, family, and local authorities. In a more “modern” story, however, the villain may be a friend, parent, boss, teacher, police, or government agency.
This was a project conducted during MATS 5.0 under the mentorship of Vanessa Kosoy and supported by a grant from BERI. It builds off the String Machines framework (and depends on the linked post for certain definitions), which models category-theoretic generalizations of finite-state transducers.
Earlier this year I got an email telling me that I could receive (if I wished) a GWWC pledge pin after completing the first year of being a pledger. So I sent off a form, and after waiting a little while longer, a small package arrived at my door with the pin inside. I wanted to write this post about that year much closer to the time I received it, but as always real life got in the way!
One reason you shouldn't take very seriously the intuition that insects don't matter
Webinar: AI, Elections, and Disinformation - https://youtu.be/0AjPl03eXK4
During our recent webinar, CSET's Josh A. Goldstein and expert panelists discussed AI’s impact on the 2024 elections. Sarah Shirazyan of Meta highlighted the challenges of AI and its effect on information reliability. Event Details: https://cset.georgetown.edu/event/ai-elections-and-disinformation/...
Here's his blog https://fakenous.substack.com/
Here's the blog post I mentioned https://benthams.substack.com/p/contra-huemer-on-whether-you-need
this week in security — april 21 edition
Congress reauthorizes and expands FISA, CISA warns of smart lock flaw, XZ backdoor wasn't an isolated incident, and more. ~this week in security~. a cybersecurity newsletter by @zackwhittaker
volume 7, issue 16
View this email in your browser | RSS
~ ~
THIS WEEK, TL;DR. Senate votes to reauthorize and expand Section...
Addressing an objection to genetic enhancement for IQ
On everything I pretend to know
Loading...