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# How can we ensure that a Friendly AI team will be sane enough?
One possible answer to the [argument](/lw/6mi/some_thoughts_on_singularity_strategies/) "attempting to build FAI based on Eliezer's ideas seems infeasible and increases the risk of UFAI without helping much to increase the probability of a good outcome, ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/WCYK7B28SZ7uJxftD/how-can-we-ensure-that-a-friendly-ai-team-will-be-sane |
# Short article on AI in UK online Wired
A short article, quoting me and Luke:
[http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-05/17/the-dangers-of-an-ai-smarter-than-us](http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-05/17/the-dangers-of-an-ai-smarter-than-us)
It makes the point that it's not the shambling robots that are the ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ZbPiq5cfNRDogERLY/short-article-on-ai-in-uk-online-wired |
# Holden's Objection 1: Friendliness is dangerous
Nick_Beckstead [asked](/lw/cbs/thoughts_on_the_singularity_institute_si/6lc8) me to link to posts I referred to in [this comment](/lw/cbs/thoughts_on_the_singularity_institute_si/6lbc). I should put up or shut up, so here's an attempt to give an organized overview of ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/mSktD7oj6C2zxj3KC/holden-s-objection-1-friendliness-is-dangerous |
# Be careful with thought experiments
[Thagard (2012)](http://www.amazon.com/The-Cognitive-Science-Explanation-Conceptual/dp/0262017288/) contains a nicely compact passage on thought experiments:
> Grisdale’s (2010) discussion of modern conceptions of water refutes a highly influential thought experiment that the mea... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/RRszjHp7xNoB7DkCz/be-careful-with-thought-experiments |
# Value of Information: 8 examples
[ciphergoth](/r/discussion/lw/cid/quantified_self_recommendations/) just asked what the actual value of Quantified Self/self-experimentation is. This finally tempted me into running [value of information](/lw/85x/value_of_information_four_examples/) calculations on my own experiments... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/xiojTDJP6FWdb2Fmb/value-of-information-8-examples |
# How to brainstorm effectively
> Mr. Malfoy is new to the business of having ideas, and so when he has one, he becomes proud of himself for having it. He has not yet had enough ideas to unflinchingly discard those that are beautiful in some aspects and impractical in others; he has not yet acquired confidence in his ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/PrPk5ogJNK7QcPead/how-to-brainstorm-effectively |
# Work harder on tabooing "Friendly AI"
This is is an outgrowth of a [comment](/r/discussion/lw/bxr/muehlhauserwang_dialogue/6go9) I left on Luke's dialog with Pei Wang, and I'll start by quoting that comment in full:
Luke, what do you mean here when you say, "Friendly AI may be incoherent and impossible"?
The Sing... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/5pYfLADQ8gvk6Sd33/work-harder-on-tabooing-friendly-ai |
# Shaving: Less Long
OK, OK, it's not the weightiest of topics, and it's not rocket science. But I searched the site for "shaving" and "razor" and didn't see where it had been previously addressed.
I had a beard for nearly 30 years, but have been shaving again the last 6. I have always (since a brief experimental per... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/3xdpKgFakvYka7wag/shaving-less-long |
# How to deal with non-realism?
From [Being a Realist (even if you believe in God)](/r/discussion/lw/cha/being_a_realist_even_if_you_believe_in_god):
> theists and untheists can and should meet half way and at least agree on the logical necessity of being a realist.
My mother, who doesn't call herself a theist (I t... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Nj4HZFfzCrgYBM9yc/how-to-deal-with-non-realism |
# When is Winning not Winning?
Lately I'd gotten jaded enough that I simply accepted that different rules apply to the elite class. As Hanson would say, most rules are there specifically to curtail those who don't have the ability to avoid them and to be side-stepped by those who do - it's why we evolved such big, man... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/9c8gGtXBXsKNhJdHw/when-is-winning-not-winning |
# Resurrection through simulation: questions of feasibility, desirability and some implications
Could a future superintelligence bring back the already dead? This discussion has come up a while [back](/lw/3x3/couldwould_an_fai_recreate_people_who_are/) (and see the somewhat [related](/r/discussion/lw/bg0/cryonics_wit... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/C5ryrg5ktngwsZHnX/resurrection-through-simulation-questions-of-feasibility |
# Wasted life
It's just occurred to me that, giving all the cheerful risk stuff I work with, one of the most optimistic things people could say to me would be:
"You've wasted your life. Nothing of what you've done is relevant or useful."
That would make me very happy. Of course, that only works if it's credible. | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/tzAtTtpX9BFS6tAZM/wasted-life |
# Book Summary: Willpower by Baumeister, Tierney
I recently read [this book](http://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Strength-ebook/dp/B0052REQCY/ref=tmm_kin_title_0/185-8206488-1594713?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2). I've tried to summarize the main points below -- you can read my notes [here](https://www.dr... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/DqngasYzkwvEWuGya/book-summary-willpower-by-baumeister-tierney |
# Another Iterated Prisoner's Dilemma Tournament?
Last year, there was a lot of interest in the [IPD tournament](/lw/79r/prisoners_dilemma_as_a_game_theory_laboratory/) with people asking for regular events of this sort and developing new strategies (like Afterparty) within hours after the [results](/lw/7f2/prisoners_... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/gdEA4oZX5xKRmScJ8/another-iterated-prisoner-s-dilemma-tournament |
# PSA: Learn to code
Presumably you read Less Wrong because you're interested in thinking better.
If so, you might be interested in another opportunity to improve the quality of your thinking: learn to code.
Like nothing else, coding forces you to identify flaws in your thinking. If your thinking is flawed, your pro... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/zQgZtMT6Tms6KTgGW/psa-learn-to-code |
# A Scholarly AI Risk Wiki
Series: [How to Purchase AI Risk Reduction](/r/discussion/lw/cs6/how_to_purchase_ai_risk_reduction/)
One large project proposal currently undergoing cost-benefit analysis at the Singularity Institute is a **scholarly AI risk wiki**. Below I will summarize the project proposal, because:
* ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/mYuMdmMmGM7fFj382/a-scholarly-ai-risk-wiki |
# Share Your Checklists!
[Checklists](/lw/19/checklists/) [are](/lw/8vm/the_rationalists_checklist/) [powerful](http://www.amazon.com/Checklist-Manifesto-How-Things-Right/dp/0805091742), and I don't use them enough. You probably don't, either.
Below are some of my own checklists. Please share your own!
**I don't kno... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/XKXsJAFnnBLeqfPiY/share-your-checklists |
# A novel approach to axiomatic decision theory
In the standard approach to axiomatic Bayesian decision theory, an agent (a decision maker) doesn't prefer Act #1 to Act #2 _because_ the expected utility of Act #1 exceeds that of Act #2. Instead, the agent states its preferences over a set of risky acts, and if these s... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/EqCraJS4mQPxp3MX3/a-novel-approach-to-axiomatic-decision-theory |
# Posts I'd Like To Write (Includes Poll)
**Summary:** _There are a bunch of posts I want to write; I'd like your help prioritizing them, and if you feel like writing one of them, that would be awesome too!
_
I haven't been writing up as many of my ideas for Less Wrong as I'd like; I have excuses, but so does every... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/X2qk7paWE9sH7MLZp/posts-i-d-like-to-write-includes-poll |
# Expertise and advice
In his [essay](http://www.succeedsocially.com/changingadvice) "How The Type Of Advice Someone Can Give Can Change Over Time", the author of SucceedSocially.com writes:
> ...as someone starts to become proficient in a field, they can start to take all the basic little steps for granted. With tim... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/HBKJuqKWLyfRsWTco/expertise-and-advice |
# Funding Good Research
Series: [How to Purchase AI Risk Reduction](/r/discussion/lw/cs6/how_to_purchase_ai_risk_reduction/)
I recently explained that one major project undergoing cost-benefit analysis at the Singularity Institute is that of a [scholarly AI risk wiki](/lw/cnj/a_scholarly_ai_risk_wiki/). The proposal ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/qmiaJKkBNk2gGTkuG/funding-good-research |
# SotW: Avoid Motivated Cognition
_(The [Exercise Prize](http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/CFAR_Exercise_Prize) series of [posts](/tag/exprize/) is the Center for Applied Rationality asking for help inventing exercises that can teach cognitive skills. The difficulty is __coming up with exercises interesting enough, with... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/thfnus52hgHA32XfQ/sotw-avoid-motivated-cognition |
# Computer Science and Programming: Links and Resources
Updated Version @ LW Wiki: [wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Programming_resources](http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Programming_resources)
**Contents**
| * [How Computers Work](#basics) * [An Overview of Computer Programming](#programming) * [Computer Science and Computa... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/5sKx9BXRzrfHp2SL8/computer-science-and-programming-links-and-resources |
# Problematic Problems for TDT
A key goal of Less Wrong's "advanced" [decision theories](http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Decision_theory "decision theories") (like [TDT](http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Timeless_decision_theory "TDT"), [UDT](http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/Updateless_decision_theory "UDT") and [ADT](http:... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/3GyQXTy2WhYcaBgS2/problematic-problems-for-tdt |
# Review: Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids
This is a review of Bryan Caplan’s book [Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids](http://www.amazon.com/Selfish-Reasons-Have-More-ebook/dp/B004OA64Q6/ref=kinw_dp_ke?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2). Co-written with Walid.
Summary
=======
Adoption studies indicate that differences in par... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/nzsHQzsvwLw6g4pyE/review-selfish-reasons-to-have-more-kids |
# A Protocol for Optimizing Affection
If Eliezer's art of solving confusing questions is the [basic punch of rationality](/lw/c4/go_forth_and_create_the_art/), and fighting akrasia and becoming personally effective is the basic front kick, I would like to master the loving hug. Here is a simple protocol to help us bui... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/hRvAeLQmbQtuhhjTH/a-protocol-for-optimizing-affection |
# [Link] Reason: the God that fails, but we keep socially promoting….
An interesting [blog post](http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2012/05/reason-the-god-that-fails-but-we-keep-socially-promoting/) by Razib Khan, who many here probably know from his [Gene Expression blog](http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/),... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/55vDmhF8vZykersix/link-reason-the-god-that-fails-but-we-keep-socially |
# When None Dare Urge Restraint, pt. 2
In the original [When None Dare Urge Restraint](/lw/ls/when_none_dare_urge_restraint/) post, Eliezer discusses the dangers of the "spiral of hate" that can develop when saying negative things about the Hated Enemy trumps saying accurate things. Specifically, he uses the example o... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/f5BocZMNkG2bLBLnx/when-none-dare-urge-restraint-pt-2 |
# Avoid inflationary use of terms
Inflationary terms! You see them everywhere. And for those who actually know and care about the subject matter they can be very frustrating. These terms are notorious for being used in contexts where:
1. They are only loosely applicable at best.
2. There exists a better word that i... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/LqfnkpmK2EBcwbAwA/avoid-inflationary-use-of-terms |
# List of underrated risks?
As everyone here knows, it would be a stupid idea to switch from airplanes to cars out of safety/terrorism concerns: Cars are a much more risky means of transportation than airplanes. But what other major risks are there that many people systematically undervalue or are not even consciously... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/bX2N9rFZvFbBt7jhT/list-of-underrated-risks |
# One possible issue with radically increased lifespan
I might need a better title (It has now been updated), but here goes, anyway:
I've been considering this for a while now. Suppose we reach a point where we can live for centuries, maybe even millenia, then how do we balance? Even assuming we're as efficient as po... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/pAHurAu3cBjBHQvdx/one-possible-issue-with-radically-increased-lifespan |
# Rational Toothpaste: A Case Study
_Inspired by [Konkvistador's comment](/r/discussion/lw/cnp/what_is_the_best_programming_language/6oan)_
Posts titled "Rational _\_\_\__-ing" or "A Rational Approach to ______" induce groans among a [sizeable](/r/discussion/lw/con/the_rational_rationalists_guide_to_rationally/) [con... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/NHuLAS3oKZWr2X9hP/rational-toothpaste-a-case-study |
# Short Primers on Crucial Topics
Series: [How to Purchase AI Risk Reduction](/r/discussion/lw/cs6/how_to_purchase_ai_risk_reduction/)
Here's [another](/lw/cnj/a_scholarly_ai_risk_wiki/) [way](/r/discussion/lw/cok/funding_good_research/) we might purchase existential risk reduction: the production of **short primers ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/LFfizpc5YupK7pWNv/short-primers-on-crucial-topics |
# Only say 'rational' when you can't eliminate the word
Almost all instances of the word "true" can be eliminated from the sentences in which they appear by applying Tarski's formula. For example, if you say, "I believe the sky is blue, and that's true!" then this can be rephrased as the statement, "I believe the sky... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/hN8Ld8YdqFsui2xgc/only-say-rational-when-you-can-t-eliminate-the-word |
# Low Hanging Fruit- Basic bedroom decorating
**This is a weird topic for a discussion post. Why are you writing it?**
In a recent post-mini-camp skills exchange thread, I jokingly mentioned that I could "help make your room look Awesome!" To my surprise, a couple people were actually interested. Note: I'm not an int... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/vr8yoKg7R52mTKDMm/low-hanging-fruit-basic-bedroom-decorating |
# Loebian cooperation, version 2
I'm writing up some math results developed on LW as a paper with the tentative title "Self-referential decision algorithms". Something interesting came up while I was cleaning up the [Loebian cooperation](/lw/2ip/ai_cooperation_in_practice) result. Namely, how do we say precisely that ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/B64CZks9sb3PmgxXK/loebian-cooperation-version-2 |
# Proposal for "Open Problems in Friendly AI"
Series: [How to Purchase AI Risk Reduction](/r/discussion/lw/cs6/how_to_purchase_ai_risk_reduction/)
[](http://commonsenseatheism.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Open-Problems-in-F... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/YiyAdz2DcmkR7Nz2H/proposal-for-open-problems-in-friendly-ai |
# Building the AI Risk Research Community
Series: [How to Purchase AI Risk Reduction](/r/discussion/lw/cs6/how_to_purchase_ai_risk_reduction/)
[Yet](/lw/cnj/a_scholarly_ai_risk_wiki/) [another](/r/discussion/lw/cok/funding_good_research/) [way](/lw/cr0/short_primers_on_crucial_topics/) [to](/lw/cr7/proposal_for_open_... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/kkkCuCLiT8G9gDEJK/building-the-ai-risk-research-community |
# How to Purchase AI Risk Reduction
I'm writing a series of discussion posts on **how to purchase AI risk reduction** (through [donations to the Singularity Institute](http://intelligence.org/donate/), anyway; other x-risk organizations will have to speak for themselves about their plans).
Each post outlines a concre... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/8LrrHdt8HSvZFKmRb/how-to-purchase-ai-risk-reduction |
# Which cognitive biases should we trust in?
There have been (at least) a couple of attempts on LW to make Anki flashcards from Wikipedia's famous [List of Cognitive Biases](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cognitive_biases), [here](/lw/3px/anki_deck_for_biases_and_fallacies/) and [here](/lw/5t9/anki_flashcard_de... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/8arFF9SdstBqz7c8K/which-cognitive-biases-should-we-trust-in |
# Son of Shit Rationalists Say
A long time ago, in the colder seasons, I [asked for suggestions](/lw/9ki/shit_rationalists_say/) for a Shit Rationalists Say video. Due to other concerns it took me this long to put it together, and the meme has long since passed. However, here it is.
[Shit Rationalists Say](http://www... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/p5jwZE6hTz92sSCcY/son-of-shit-rationalists-say |
# Low Hanging Fruit in Computer Hardware
Introduction:
=============
Since my fellow LWers have been making posts about [shaving](/r/discussion/lw/cjf/shaving_less_long/), [dental hygiene](/lw/cqz/rational_toothpaste_a_case_study/) and [bedroom decorating](/r/discussion/lw/cru/low_hanging_fruit_basic_bedroom_decorati... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/NWPhXTgQpKAR9DeZb/low-hanging-fruit-in-computer-hardware |
# Marketplace Transactions Open Thread
Social scientists think humans operate under one of two different sets of norms, depending on the circumstances: "market norms" or "social norms". The basic idea is that when exchanging money for goods and services formally, it's considered okay to be much more calculating and se... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/qY3XmmHHG7s9wnwNq/marketplace-transactions-open-thread |
# Focus on rationality
(This is my view in the recent debate about posts giving a "rational" discussion of some random topic. It was originally at [comment](/lw/crd/only_say_rational_when_you_cant_eliminate_the_word/6pvq) level but I've extended it and posted it in discussion because I want to know if and where people... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/bBFLpfKCgndBw9iGp/focus-on-rationality |
# Paper: Iterated Prisoner’s Dilemma contains strategies that dominate any evolutionary opponent
Bill "Numerical Recipes" Press and Freeman "Dyson sphere" Dyson [have a new paper on iterated prisoner dilemas](http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2012/05/16/1206569109.full.pdf) (IPD). Interestingly they found new surprisi... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/WcD4puSxkbqinRs6R/paper-iterated-prisoner-s-dilemma-contains-strategies-that |
# Raising safety-consciousness among AGI researchers
Series: [How to Purchase AI Risk Reduction](/r/discussion/lw/cs6/how_to_purchase_ai_risk_reduction/)
Another method for purchasing AI risk reduction is to raise the safety-consciousness of researchers doing work related to AGI.
The Singularity Institute is conduct... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/6Lg8RWL9pEvoAeEvr/raising-safety-consciousness-among-agi-researchers |
# "Where Am I?", by Daniel Dennett
[”Where Am I?”](http://www.newbanner.com/SecHumSCM/WhereAmI.html) is a short story by [Daniel Dennett](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Dennett) from his book _Brainstorms: Philosophical Essays on Mind and Psychology._Some of you might already be familiar with it.
The story is a... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/p9i4fQM5tcfNv6FjM/where-am-i-by-daniel-dennett |
# Satire of Journal of Personality and Social Psychology's publication bias
Follow-up to: [Follow-up on ESP study: "We don't publish replications"](/lw/6lq/followup_on_esp_study_we_dont_publish_replications/), [Using degrees of freedom to change the past for fun and profit](/lw/a9f/using_degrees_of_freedom_to_change_t... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/5u2XQf2eTTujszLAY/satire-of-journal-of-personality-and-social-psychology-s |
# Consider a robot vacuum.
My wife and I recently acquired a robot vacuum. It has turned out to be a really great time-saving and life-improving investment. Some simple math suggests it may be worth you also considering buying one.
Let's say you spend 20 minutes a week vacuuming. That's about 17 hours of vacuuming pe... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/89PRgSHbcyPXwfkom/consider-a-robot-vacuum |
# Global Workspace Theory
Much research has been done upon visual perception. Humans have the illusion that they are directly aware of everything in their 'field of view', but it turns out that they actually navigate not through reality, but through a model of reality that their brain stitches together mainly from t... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ZecFM3uCpxctoePHp/global-workspace-theory |
# List of Problems That Motivated UDT
I noticed that recently I wrote several comments of the form "UDT can be seen as a step towards solving X" and thought it might be a good idea to list in one place all of the problems that helped motivate [UDT1](/lw/15m/towards_a_new_decision_theory/) (not including problems that ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/4kvaocbkDDS2AMoPG/list-of-problems-that-motivated-udt |
# Open Problems Related to Solomonoff Induction
Solomonoff Induction seems clearly "on the right track", but there are a number of problems with it that I've been puzzling over for several years and have not made much progress on. I think I've talked about all of them in various comments in the past, but never collect... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/fC248GwrWLT4Dkjf6/open-problems-related-to-solomonoff-induction |
# [Link] Thick and thin
A new interesting entry on [Gregory Cochran](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregory_Cochran)'s and [Henry Harpending](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Harpending)'s well known blog ([West Hunter](http://westhunt.wordpress.com/)). For me the information I gained from the LessWrong articles on [... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/5qMxWi9ryt9Ym4xmW/link-thick-and-thin |
# Help please!
Yesterday my mom noticed (at a funeral) that I wasn't praying or participating in the mass. She confronted me about it, and I told her that no, I am not Catholic. Apparently it's sinking in and she's a bit hysterical... crying and screaming that she doesn't know me anymore.
What do I do? I don't know h... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/HFdpDFGWXqiaiN2ua/help-please |
# Building toward a Friendly AI team
Series: [How to Purchase AI Risk Reduction](/r/discussion/lw/cs6/how_to_purchase_ai_risk_reduction/)
A key part of SI's strategy for AI risk reduction is to build toward hosting a Friendly AI development team at the Singularity Institute.
I don't take it to be _obvious_ that an S... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/p4Gd8pRcbnKo46hus/building-toward-a-friendly-ai-team |
# [Link] Nerds are nuts
**Related to:** [Reason as memetic immune disorder](/lw/18b/reason_as_memetic_immune_disorder/), [Commentary on compartmentalization](/lw/18b/reason_as_memetic_immune_disorder/14ac)
On the old [old gnxp site](http://www.gnxp.com/) site Razib Khan wrote an interesting piece on a failure mode of... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ahfcr7nCzDhuELzL2/link-nerds-are-nuts |
# Peter Thiel's AGI discussion in his startups class @ Stanford [link]
[http://blakemasters.tumblr.com/post/24464587112/peter-thiels-cs183-startup-class-17-deep-thought](http://blakemasters.tumblr.com/post/24464587112/peter-thiels-cs183-startup-class-17-deep-thought)
Some perspectives on AI risk that might be interes... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/K5fWkTkYCiAN86PMJ/peter-thiel-s-agi-discussion-in-his-startups-class-stanford |
# Thoughts and problems with Eliezer's measure of optimization power
Back in the day, Eliezer [proposed](/lw/va/measuring_optimization_power/) a method for measuring the optimization power (OP) of a system S. The idea is to get a measure of small a target the system can hit:
> You can quantify this, at least in theor... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/iJNK7rE5jphMSJJCa/thoughts-and-problems-with-eliezer-s-measure-of-optimization |
# Ask an experimental physicist
In response to falenas108's "Ask an X" thread. I have a PhD in experimental particle physics; I'm currently working as a postdoc at the University of Cincinnati. Ask me anything, as the saying goes.
This is an experiment. There's nothing I like better than talking about what I do; but ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/y7e6K22jdb4qEK5Nf/ask-an-experimental-physicist |
# Combining causality with algorithmic information theory
Warning: maths.
[Causal inference using the algorithmic Markov condition](http://arxiv.org/abs/0804.3678) (Janzing and Schölkopf, 2008) replaces conditional independences between random variables, which define the structure of causal graphs, with algorithmic c... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/hxzgoZp9CiQLPB9Le/combining-causality-with-algorithmic-information-theory |
# Are the bacteria/parasites in your gut affecting your thinking?
There is a variety of science going on, mostly in mice, about how intestinal microbiota (bacteria/parasites/fungi?) can affect behavior, emotion, and mental development ([Review paper: The micro-biome gut-brain axis, 2011](http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/5GhusoM5BSQtbH7ia/are-the-bacteria-parasites-in-your-gut-affecting-your |
# Conspiracy Theories as Agency Fictions
**Related to:** [Consider Conspiracies](http://www.overcomingbias.com/2011/04/consider-conspiracies.html), [What causes people to believe in conspiracy theories?](/lw/5ku/what_causes_people_to_believe_in_conspiracy/)
_Here I consider in some detail a failure mode that classica... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Peo8jAyjGL9kWoYAH/conspiracy-theories-as-agency-fictions |
# Proposal: Show up and down votes separately
One of the most interesting things about this site is the karma scoring, and that it reflects (to a greater degree than you see elsewhere) an objective assessment of the merits of an argument.
\[Edit^6: the proposal in this post is related to the [Kibitzer system](/lw/1s/... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/WTxYChzB5twRjdmXN/proposal-show-up-and-down-votes-separately |
# What was your biggest recent surprise?
I recently flipped through the "Cartoon Guide to Physics", expecting an easy-to-understand rehash of ideas I was long familiar with; and that's what I got - right up to the last few pages, where I was presented with a fairly fundamental concept that's been absent from the popul... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/raq9gCoBcwvvZok7K/what-was-your-biggest-recent-surprise |
# I think I've found the source of what's been bugging me about "Friendly AI"
In the comments on [this post](/lw/cjx/how_likely_the_ai_that_knows_its_evil_or_is_a/) (which in retrospect I feel was not very clearly written), someone linked me to a post Eliezer wrote five years ago, ["The Hidden Complexity of Wishes."](... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/vYznKkPJncjZzQGS2/i-think-i-ve-found-the-source-of-what-s-been-bugging-me |
# [link] Aubrey de Grey answers Reddit AMA in video
[Aubrey de Grey](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubrey_de_Grey "Aubrey de Grey"), Chief Science Officer of the SENS Foundation, has posted a video with answers to some of the questions posed at him in a recent [Reddit AMA](http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/to32n/as... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/GNiR3Q7tQm5fQQevM/link-aubrey-de-grey-answers-reddit-ama-in-video |
# Seeking information relevant to deciding whether to try to become an AI researcher and, if so, how.
I was initially going to title this post, "try to become an AI researcher and, if so, how?" but see [Hold Off On Proposing Solutions.](/lw/ka/hold_off_on_proposing_solutions/) So instead, I'm going to ask people to gi... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/XqhAyKfkzhnJpmuw8/seeking-information-relevant-to-deciding-whether-to-try-to |
# Intellectual insularity and productivity
_Guys I'd like your opinion on something._
**Do you think LessWrong is too intellectually insular?** What I mean by this is that we very seldom seem to adopt useful vocabulary or arguments or information from outside of LessWrong. For example all I can think of is some of R... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/M65WWD49bKZYLmAtN/intellectual-insularity-and-productivity |
# [Link] Some notes on Rationality in Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality
[http://www.etla.org/hpmor_notes.html](http://www.etla.org/hpmor_notes.html)
This is an ongoing project of mine, although I haven't worked on it in a while. I've been trying to extract the references to Rationality - the Methods of Rati... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/eEjfow7naRmqapSky/link-some-notes-on-rationality-in-harry-potter-and-the |
# Let's all learn stats!
[I want to become Stronger!](/lw/h8/tsuyoku_naritai_i_want_to_become_stronger/)
[Udacity](http://www.udacity.com/) are running an [Introduction to Statistics](http://www.udacity.com/overview/Course/st101/CourseRev/1) course starting on the 25th June 2012.
Many of us could stand to learn some... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/MXJN9kwNRTNJkWgYM/let-s-all-learn-stats |
# Glenn Beck discusses the Singularity, cites SI researchers
From the final chapter of his new book _Cowards_, titled "Adapt or Die: The Coming Intelligence Explosion."
> The year is 1678 and you’ve just arrived in England via a time machine. You take out your new iPhone in front of a group of scientists who have gat... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/fg5LZQDd3YZncrWbw/glenn-beck-discusses-the-singularity-cites-si-researchers |
# [Link] The Greek Heliocentric Theory
_Summary: The Greeks likely rejected a heliocentric theory because it would conflict with the lack of any visible stellar parallax, not for egotistical, common-sense, or aesthetic reasons._
I had always heard that the Greeks embraced a geocentric universe for common-sense, aesth... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/noBKApHwFm8aMuvnw/link-the-greek-heliocentric-theory |
# Reply to Holden on 'Tool AI'
I begin by thanking Holden Karnofsky of [Givewell](http://www.givewell.org/) for his rare gift of his detailed, engaged, and helpfully-meant critical article [Thoughts on the Singularity Institute (SI)](/lw/cbs/thoughts_on_the_singularity_institute_si/). In this reply I will engage with ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/sizjfDgCgAsuLJQmm/reply-to-holden-on-tool-ai |
# How to Run a Successful Less Wrong Meetup
[](http://wiki.lesswrong.com/mediawiki/images/c/ca/How_to_Run_a_Successful_Less_Wrong_Meetup_Group.pdf)Always wanted to run a Less Wrong meetup, but been unsure of how? The _[How to Run ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/qMuAazqwJvkvo8teR/how-to-run-a-successful-less-wrong-meetup |
# The Creating Bob the Jerk problem. Is it a real problem in decision theory?
I was recently reading about the [Transparent Newcomb with your Existence at Stake problem](/lw/43t/youre_in_newcombs_box/), which, to make a long story short, states that you were created by Prometheus, who foresaw that you would one-box on... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/noWqRhugq4bXW5QwE/the-creating-bob-the-jerk-problem-is-it-a-real-problem-in |
# Computation Hazards
##### This is a summary of material from various posts and discussions. My thanks to Eliezer Yudkowsky, Daniel Dewey, Paul Christiano, Nick Beckstead, and several others.
Several ideas have been floating around LessWrong that can be organized under one concept, relating to a subset of AI safety ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/JLHipmPf55x6cuvsN/computation-hazards |
# [Link] Can We Reverse The Stanford Prison Experiment?
From the Harvard Business Review, an article entitled: "Can We Reverse The Stanford Prison Experiment?"
By: Greg McKeown
Posted: June 12, 2012
[Clicky Link of Awesome! Wheee! Push me!](http://blogs.hbr.org/cs/2012/06/can_we_reverse_the_stanford_pr.html)
**Su... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/QeZbm7vx3iXfn5nAZ/link-can-we-reverse-the-stanford-prison-experiment |
# Brainstorming additional AI risk reduction ideas
It looks as though lukeprog has finished his series on how to purchase AI risk reduction. But the ideas lukeprog shares are not the only available strategies. Can Less Wrong come up with more?
A summary of recommendations from [Exploring the Idea Space Efficiently](/... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/8HPsRYKE2pYHtqRhw/brainstorming-additional-ai-risk-reduction-ideas |
# How confident is your atheism?
A friend recently asked how strongly I believe that my deconversion from Christianity was not a mistake. Here's my response, and for those of you who are not Christians, I'm just wondering what numbers you would give:
* * *
"There is a part of me that wants to say the chance is far l... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/ihuhk8P5YLEScpK8y/how-confident-is-your-atheism |
# What's the best way to rest?
So, it's well-known (or, at least, oft-thought) that you can't just work 16 hours a day; if you want to get stuff done, you need to _rest_ from time to time. You have to take breaks.
Today, just now, I realized that I don't really know what the best way to rest is. If I want to rest, sh... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/cSgtgqwt7DGMWdBBN/what-s-the-best-way-to-rest |
# [Cryonics News] Australian cryonics startup: Stasis Systems Australia update
Potentially of interest to my fellow antipodean LessWrongers. [Stasis Systems Australia](http://www.stasissystemsaustralia.com "Stasis Systems Australia") is a company seeking to start a cryonics facility in Australia. Their website is pret... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/pEqcTWkdmQZyYDbTg/cryonics-news-australian-cryonics-startup-stasis-systems |
# Cards Against Rationality
(This post won't make much sense if you don't know about the game [_Cards Against Humanity_](http://www.cardsagainsthumanity.com/). Fortunately it has a web site. If you know the game _Apples to Apples_, well, _CAH_'s gameplay is almost identical to _Apples to Apples_ ... but the cards rang... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/fn5bJLvJgvxj72Yt9/cards-against-rationality |
# Arrison, Vassar and de Grey speaking at Peter Thiel's startup class [link]
http://blakemasters.tumblr.com/post/25149261055/peter-thiels-cs183-startup-class-19-notes-essay
as someone mentioned the rest of Thiel's notes are also an interesting read
http://blakemasters.tumblr.com/peter-thiels-cs183-startup | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/m4TDphcMrSNmwXMND/arrison-vassar-and-de-grey-speaking-at-peter-thiel-s-startup |
# Altruistic Kidney Donation
People are dying because their kidneys have failed, and you probably have an extra one: should you donate it? A dialysis machine can do most of the work of a kidney, but it's not as good. A donated kidney gives someone an average of 10 additional years. \[1\] (Some of them reject it right ... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/wzdjAmeoPRmBE8v8o/altruistic-kidney-donation |
# Local Ordinances of Fun
**Prerequisite reading which you will probably want open in another tab for reference:** [31 Laws of Fun](/lw/y0/31_laws_of_fun/)
Unprefaced, this post might sound a lot like I'm just picking on Eliezer, or Eliezer's particular set of "laws". I'm sort of doing that, but only as a template f... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/QSDRgQq5vzPKDSwF7/local-ordinances-of-fun |
# Thwarting a Catholic conversion?
I recently learned that a friend of mine, and a long-time atheist (and atheist blogger), is [planning to convert to Catholicism](http://www.patheos.com/blogs/unequallyyoked/2012/06/this-is-my-last-post-for-the-patheos-atheist-portal.html#comments). It seems the impetus for her conver... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/WiN2NGeyPMFWCm6fD/thwarting-a-catholic-conversion |
# Suggest alternate names for the "Singularity Institute"
Once, a smart potential supporter stumbled upon the [Singularity Institute](http://intelligence.org/)'s (old) website and wanted to know if our mission was something to care about. So he sent our [concise summary](http://intelligence.org/summary/) to an AI rese... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/tnTxb3LJXJP6rRnM7/suggest-alternate-names-for-the-singularity-institute |
# Ekman Training - Reviews and/or Testing
I'm considering taking Ekman's [microexpressions training](https://face.paulekman.com/face/products.aspx) because it's cheap in both time and money. Has anyone here taken it? Did it work for you? How do you know?
The course does seem to come with tests included (both before a... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Q7Z4RoTS7v8T3Eo2f/ekman-training-reviews-and-or-testing |
# Less Wrong used to like Bitcoin before it was cool. Time for a revisit?
Less Wrong used to like Bitcoin before it was cool. [Monthly threads](/lw/65e/general_bitcoin_discussion_thread_june_2011/) popped up around the same time a pricing bubble brought mainstream attention last year. When the bubble popped, and price... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/y3Y42GXckQuu6bC2m/less-wrong-used-to-like-bitcoin-before-it-was-cool-time-for |
# Why Academic Papers Are A Terrible Discussion Forum
Over the past few months, the Singularity Institute has published many [papers](/lw/axr/three_new_papers_on_ai_risk/) on topics related to Friendly AI. It's wonderful that these ideas are getting written up, and it's virtually always better to do something suboptim... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/gZgjqrotKyCJR9zGq/why-academic-papers-are-a-terrible-discussion-forum |
# Plastination is maturing and needs funding, says Hanson
> Though cryonics has been practiced for forty years, its techniques have improved only slowly; its few customers can only induce a tiny research effort. The much larger brain research community, in contrast, has been rapidly improving their ways to do fast che... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/whgNqLq2tJiri3GdY/plastination-is-maturing-and-needs-funding-says-hanson |
# Help me make SI's arguments clear
One of the biggest problems with evaluating the plausibility of SI's arguments is that the arguments involve a large number of premises (as any complex argument will) and often these arguments are either not written down or are written down in disparate locations, making it very har... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/wffMWnGDuH6xFrWnp/help-me-make-si-s-arguments-clear |
# Minimum viable workout routine
So you want the longevity benefits of regular exercise but you've hit some snags. Every routine pretty much makes you miserable. In addition, because of all the conflicting information out there, you aren't even sure if you're getting the full benefits. This post is for you. And do... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/xAiMk4e7neP6Ah7FG/minimum-viable-workout-routine |
# The Power of Reinforcement
Part of the sequence: [The Science of Winning at Life](http://wiki.lesswrong.com/wiki/The_Science_of_Winning_at_Life)
Also see: [Basics of Animal Reinforcement](/lw/6iu/basics_of_animal_reinforcement/), [Basics of Human Reinforcement](/lw/6ja/basics_of_human_reinforcement/), [Physical and... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/GGn8MBiY8Xz6NdNdH/the-power-of-reinforcement |
# Leading Discussions: Addressing Time Monopolizers
> _"Having been that monologuist, I fully endorse this article." -David Gerard_
>
> _This is part of a series on leading discussions, aimed at teachers and event organizers._
Have you ever been in a discussion (in a class or a workshop) when another attendee delive... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/faFZ8iLrz6HshZizu/leading-discussions-addressing-time-monopolizers |
# Blogs by LWers
**Related to:** [Wikifying the Blog List](/lw/hee/wikifying_the_blog_list/)
LessWrong posters and readers are generally pretty cool people. Maybe they are interesting bloggers too. And I'm not just talking about rationalist material, that we'd ideally like to be cross posted on LessWrong, no gardenin... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/h83ZzxEpKiPPjsRKs/blogs-by-lwers |
# IJMC Mind Uploading Special Issue published
The International Journal of Machine Consciousness recently published its [special issue on mind uploading](http://www.worldscinet.com/ijmc/04/0401/S17938430120401.html). The papers are paywalled, but as the editor of the issue, Ben Goertzel has put together a page that [l... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/K6cjx2D5LEhASx4hm/ijmc-mind-uploading-special-issue-published |
# Less Wrong on Twitter
List of members of Less Wrong who are on Twitter:
* [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://twitter.com/ESYudkowsky)
* [Steven Kaas](http://twitter.com/#!/stevenkaas)
* [Vladimir Nesov](https://twitter.com/vladimirnesov)
* [So8res](https://twitter.com/So8res)
* [Alex Vermeer](https://twitter.com... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/BBsCv9dSfnxCArgi7/less-wrong-on-twitter |
# Draft of Edwin Jaynes' "Probability Theory: The Logic of Science" online, with lost chapter 30
[http://thiqaruni.org/mathpdf9/(86).pdf](http://thiqaruni.org/mathpdf9/(86).pdf)
The book didn't include Chapter 30 - "MAXIMUM ENTROPY: MATRIX FORMULATION"
Opening in adobe seems to work out better for me. | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Xon5AFbKcbwoQ5RWR/draft-of-edwin-jaynes-probability-theory-the-logic-of |
# Web of Trust lists Singularity.org as having a bad reputation
I'm not too sure who is familiar with [Web of Trust](http://www.mywot.com/), so I'll start with a brief description. It's basically a browser app that inserts a circle next to text links in websites. The color of the circle indicates whether or not it's a... | https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/Y7hvsr8hvwcgCN8xG/web-of-trust-lists-singularity-org-as-having-a-bad |
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