He points out that mathematicians are also rent-seekers (though only 20% rent-seeking). You know, those famously capital-extractive mathematicians.

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I know this is not a novel insight, but all these people in the comments talking about translating HPMOR into as many languages as possible and funding efforts to spread it all over the world… it’s bog-standard cult behavior. Substitute “Watchtower magazine” or “Dianetics” for HPMOR to make it even more obvious.

HPMOR is the rationalist version of the Nigerian prince scam. It immediately weeds out anyone who isn’t a good mark.

Not a surprise, but the Tarbell Center – a big EA-funded journalism outlet – is funding Kevin Roose’s and Casey Newton’s new podcast, “Machine Gods”. I’m sure it will have no impact on the topics they choose to cover or the way they cover them.

It’s really hard to say because Yud’s being unnecessarily cryptic. Also, I think the “going around telling people I made them do it” might be a reference to the Zizians, which is what he’s describing in the precending sentence. I am not aware that anyone from any rich organization has said anything like that about Yudkowsky, but who knows what they might be telling people behind the scenes.

I think it’s Coefficient Giving (née Open Philanthropy). Yud has made negative comments about them in the past, especially after Moskovitz tried to distance themselves from rationalism.

EDIT: Citation.

Rapey rationalist gets a grant pulled.

More background in this thread.

Reiterating your excellent point.

Creepy rationalist says the quiet part out loud.

(“RMN” = “Red Means No” = CNC parties = Consensual Non-Consent parties = Pretend sexual assault parties)

EDIT: He elaborates.

EDIT: Allegations of sexual assault at Aella’s slutcon.

I agree. He gets over his skis with too many speculative scenarios. On the other hand I think he’s spot-on about the techniques rationalists use to filter for people who will tolerate abuse (e.g., the “cow question”). And he brings receipts when it comes to Brangus and his interactions with other prominent rationalists.

The later section about Brangus (Ronny Fernandez) was damning. I’ve seen him come up in discussions a few times, but I too had no idea just how depraved and dangerous he was. Nor did I realize how central he was to the whole scene. This guy feels like he’s going to be Brent Dill 2.0 but worse.

EDIT: This also sheds light on the recent ouster of the leader of “Pause AI”, Fernandez’s ex-wife.

SE Gyges, who posted that recent thread on X calling rationalism/EA a sex cult, wrote a longer post with a lot of receipts. He removed it shortly after, implying on X that he’s afraid of legal repercussions.

Drew DeVault diagnoses the orange site, explaining why it’s the vanguard of the tech-fash pipeline. Of course HN immediately flags it into oblivion.

I think you’re probably right. I originally thought it must have been created by a rationalist, but an e/acc author makes more sense. After all, most of them are postrationalists.

Despite the fact that it highlights all the times Yudkowsky was wrong, this site feels like it could have been produced by a rationalist. In addition to all the AI slop, it just has that feel.

Your favorite “CEO said a thing” journalists, Casey Newton and Kevin Roose, are leaving their current podcast and starting a new one.

When they started Hard Fork, they chose the name from the soon-to-be-moribund blockchain concept. Calling their new podcast “Machine Gods” makes me more hopeful than ever that the AI bubble is about to burst.

He was once Dario Amodei’s roommate. He also cofounded the Alignment Research Center (funded in part by a sizable FTX donation), which spun off METR, the organization Cotra now works at.

Curious what Caroline Ellison’s been up to since her FTX/Alameda adventures? Well wonder no more. She’s just been given a job at Manifund, where I’m sure she’ll be researching the best ways to fund her very own imperial Chinese harem.

She’s also Paul Chistiano’s spouse.