The highest impact career paths our research has identified so farKey article by Benjamin Todd · Published August 12th, 2018Big pictureCareersFrameworks and planningOrganisationsPriority pathsProblem areasStrategies
Emergency episode: Rob & Howie on the menace of COVID-19, and what both governments & individuals might be able to do to helpPodcast by Robert Wiblin, Howie Lempel and Keiran Harris · Published March 19th, 2020Biorisk reductionBiorisk strategy & policy
Reducing global catastrophic biological risksProblem profile by Gregory Lewis · Published March 16th, 2020Biomedical ResearchBiorisk reductionBiorisk strategy & policyCatastrophic RisksFuture GenerationsScientific research
Toby Ord on the precipice and humanity’s potential futuresPodcast by Robert Wiblin, Arden Koehler and Keiran Harris · Published March 7th, 2020Academic ResearchBest ResourcesCatastrophic RisksFuture GenerationsLongtermismMoral philosophyNuclear security Global priorities researchScientific research
Ben Todd on the key ideas of 80,000 HoursPodcast by Robert Wiblin, Keiran Harris and Benjamin Todd · Published March 3rd, 2020Best ResourcesCareersCatastrophic RisksLongtermismPriority pathsPromoting Effective AltruismStrategies
Dr Cassidy Nelson on the twelve best ways to stop the next pandemic (and limit COVID-19)Podcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published February 14th, 2020Academic ResearchBiomedical ResearchBiorisk reductionBiorisk strategy & policyCatastrophic RisksDoctor
China, its AI dream, and what we get wrong about bothPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published February 6th, 2020AI policyAI technical safetyArtificial IntelligenceCatastrophic RisksChina specialists
What we do and don’t know about the 2019-nCoV coronavirusBlog post by Robert Wiblin, Howie Lempel and Keiran Harris · Published February 3rd, 2020Biomedical ResearchBiorisk strategy & policyMedicine
Bonus episode: What we do and don’t know about the 2019-nCoV coronavirusPodcast by Robert Wiblin, Howie Lempel and Keiran Harris · Published February 3rd, 2020Biomedical ResearchBiorisk strategy & policyMedicine
David Chalmers on the nature and ethics of consciousnessPodcast by Robert Wiblin, Arden Koehler and Keiran Harris · Published December 16th, 2019Academic ResearchAI technical safetyAnimal WelfareBest ResourcesCatastrophic RisksGraduate studyPhilosophy Global priorities researchRecommended Academic Research
Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins on 8 years of combating WMD terrorismPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published November 19th, 2019Biorisk strategy & policyCatastrophic RisksGovernmentInfluencing budgetsNuclear security
Bruce Schneier on how insecure electronic voting could break the United States — and surveillance without tyrannyPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published October 25th, 2019Academic ResearchAI technical safetyBiorisk reductionCatastrophic RisksComputer science PhDUnconventional Advice
Vitalik Buterin on effective altruism, better ways to fund public goods, the blockchain’s problems so far, and how it could yet change the worldPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published September 3rd, 2019Academic ResearchDecision-making research & policyGovernmentNon-ProfitSocial entrepreneurship
Philosophy academiaCareer review by Arden Koehler and William MacAskill · Published August 7th, 2019Academic ResearchCareersMoral philosophyPhDs Global priorities researchResearch
Should we leave a helpful message for future civilizations, just in case humanity dies out?Podcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published August 5th, 2019AI policyAI technical safetyCatastrophic RisksLongtermismMoral philosophy
The new 30-person research group in DC investigating how emerging technologies could affect national securityPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published July 17th, 2019AI policyArtificial IntelligenceChina specialistsGovernmentOpen Philanthropy ProjectPolitics Global priorities research
DeepMind’s plan to make AI systems robust & reliable, why it’s a core issue in AI design, and how to succeed at AI researchPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published June 3rd, 2019AI technical safetyArtificial IntelligenceComputer science PhDData scienceLongtermism
Recap: why do some organisations say their recent hires are worth so much?Blog post by Benjamin Todd · Last updated May 2019EtG pros and consPriority pathsPromoting Effective Altruism
How to have a big impact in government & huge organisations, based on 16 years’ experience in the White HousePodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published April 23rd, 2019AI policyCatastrophic RisksCivil ServiceGovernmentScience policy and infrastructure
Animals in the wild often suffer a great deal. What, if anything, should we do about that?Podcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published April 15th, 2019Academic ResearchAnimal WelfareFounding Effective Non-profitsLongtermismMoral philosophyOpen Philanthropy Project Global priorities researchUnconventional Advice
OpenAI can teach algorithms to write articles, win video games & manipulate objects. How can policy keep up with AI advances?Podcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published March 19th, 2019AI policyAI technical safetyArtificial IntelligenceCatastrophic RisksFuture GenerationsPolitics
The case for building expertise to work on US AI policy, and how to do itKey article by Niel Bowerman · Published January 31st, 2019AI policyArtificial Intelligence
Computer science algorithms tackle fundamental and universal problems. Can they help us live better, or is that a false hope?Podcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published November 22nd, 2018CareersDecision ToolsDecision-making research & policyImproving Decision MakingUnconventional Advice
ML engineering for AI safety & robustness: a Google Brain engineer’s guide to entering the fieldKey article by Catherine Olsson and The 80,000 Hours team · Published November 2nd, 2018AI technical safetyArtificial IntelligenceUnconventional Advice
PhD or programming? Fast paths into aligning AI as a machine learning engineer, according to ML engineers Catherine Olsson & Daniel ZieglerPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published November 2nd, 2018AI technical safetyArtificial IntelligenceFuture GenerationsPhDsResearch
Philosophy Prof Hilary Greaves on moral cluelessness, population ethics, probability within a multiverse, & harnessing the brainpower of academia to tackle the most important research questionsPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published October 23rd, 2018Academic ResearchEffective AltruismFuture GenerationsLongtermismMoral philosophy Global priorities research
Economics Prof Tyler Cowen says our overwhelming priorities should be maximising economic growth and making civilization more stable. Is he right?Podcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published October 17th, 2018Academic ResearchCatastrophic RisksEconomics PhDFuture GenerationsLongtermismMoral philosophy Global priorities researchScientific research
What skills or experience are most needed within professional effective altruism in 2018? And which problems are most effective to work on? New survey of organisational leaders.Blog post by Robert Wiblin and Howie Lempel · Published October 8th, 2018Career capitalEffective AltruismNon-ProfitOperations at high impact organisationsPersonal fitProblem areasPromoting Effective AltruismRoles at effective altruism organisations
Dr Paul Christiano on how OpenAI is developing real solutions to the ‘AI alignment problem’, and his vision of how humanity will progressively hand over decision-making to AI systemsPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published October 2nd, 2018AI technical safetyArtificial IntelligenceFuture GenerationsPhDs
Academic researchCareer review by Jess Whittlestone · Published October 1st, 2018Academic ResearchCareersDecision-making research & policy Global priorities research
Doing good together — how to coordinate effectively, and avoid single-player thinkingKey article by Benjamin Todd · Published September 21st, 2018Big pictureEffective AltruismImproving Decision Making Global priorities researchPromoting Effective AltruismRoles at effective altruism organisations
American with a science PhD? Get a fast-track into AI and STEM policy by applying for the acclaimed AAAS Science & Technology Fellowship by Nov 1.Blog post by Niel Bowerman · Published September 18th, 2018AI policyArtificial IntelligenceFuture GenerationsGovernmentScientific research
Tackling the ethics of infinity, being clueless about the effects of our actions, and having moral empathy for intellectual adversaries, with philosopher Dr Amanda AskellPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published September 11th, 2018Academic ResearchEffective AltruismLongtermismMoral philosophyPhDs Global priorities research
If the US put fewer people in prison, would crime go up? Not at all, according to Open Philanthropy’s renowned researcher David Roodman.Podcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published August 28th, 2018Catastrophic RisksData scienceGrantmakerOpen Philanthropy Project Global priorities researchResearch
How well can we actually predict the future? Katja Grace on why expert opinion isn’t a great guide to AI’s impact and how to do betterPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published August 21st, 2018AI policyArtificial IntelligenceCatastrophic RisksFounding Effective Non-profitsFuture Generations
The highest impact career paths our research has identified so farKey article by Benjamin Todd · Published August 12th, 2018Big pictureCareersFrameworks and planningOrganisationsPriority pathsProblem areasStrategies
How much should you change your beliefs based on new evidence? Dr Spencer Greenberg on the scientific approach to solving difficult everyday questionsPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published August 7th, 2018Data scienceDecision ToolsDecision-making research & policyEntrepreneurshipImproving Decision MakingResearch
Finding the best charity requires estimating the unknowable. Here’s how GiveWell tries to do that, according to researcher James Snowden.Podcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published July 16th, 2018Foundation Program ManagementFounding Effective Non-profitsGlobal Poverty Global priorities research
Tanya Singh on ending the operations management bottleneck in effective altruismPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published July 11th, 2018Academic ResearchEntrepreneurshipFounding Effective Non-profitsHigh Impact PeopleOperations at high impact organisationsPromoting Effective AltruismRoles at effective altruism organisations
How the audacity to fix things without asking permission can change the world, demonstrated by Tara Mac AulayPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published June 22nd, 2018EntrepreneurshipFounding Effective Non-profitsOperations at high impact organisationsPersonal fitPromoting Effective AltruismRoles at effective altruism organisations
Oxford University’s Dr Anders Sandberg on if dictators could live forever, the annual risk of nuclear war, solar flares, and more.Podcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published May 29th, 2018Academic ResearchCatastrophic RisksNuclear security Global priorities research
Prof Allan Dafoe on trying to prepare the world for the possibility that AI will destabilise global politicsPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published May 18th, 2018AI policyArtificial IntelligenceImproving Decision Making Global priorities research
Where are the aliens? Three new resolutions to the Fermi Paradox. And how we could easily colonise the whole universe.Podcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published May 8th, 2018Academic ResearchCatastrophic Risks Global priorities research
Why daring scientists should have to get liability insurance, according to Dr Owen Cotton-BarrattPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published April 27th, 2018Academic ResearchPromoting Effective AltruismRoles at effective altruism organisations
The careers and policies that can prevent global catastrophic biological risks, according to world-leading health security expert Dr InglesbyPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published April 18th, 2018Biorisk reductionBiorisk strategy & policyCatastrophic Risks
Why operations management is one of the biggest bottlenecks in effective altruismKey article by Benjamin Todd and Roman Duda · Published March 31st, 2018BusinessOperations at high impact organisationsPromoting Effective AltruismRoles at effective altruism organisations
Want to do good? Here’s how to choose an area to focus onKey article by Robert Wiblin · Published March 27th, 2018 Global priorities research
Why it’s a bad idea to break the rules, even if it’s for a good causePodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published March 20th, 2018Effective AltruismParty PoliticsPromoting Effective AltruismRoles at effective altruism organisations
A machine learning alignment researcher on how to become a machine learning alignment researcherPodcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published March 16th, 2018AI technical safetyArtificial IntelligenceFuture Generations
A new recommended career path for effective altruists: China specialistKey article by Benjamin Todd and Brian Tse · Published February 28th, 2018China specialists
The world’s most intellectual foundation is hiring. Holden Karnofsky, founder of GiveWell, on how philanthropy can have maximum impact by taking big risks.Podcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published February 27th, 2018FoundationsFounding Effective Non-profitsGrantmakerOpen Philanthropy ProjectPhilanthropic Advising
Our descendants will probably see us as moral monsters. What should we do about that?Podcast by Robert Wiblin and Keiran Harris · Published January 19th, 2018Academic ResearchLongtermismMoral philosophy Global priorities researchUnconventional Advice
Michelle hopes to shape the world by shaping the ideas of intellectuals. Will global priorities research succeed?Podcast by Robert Wiblin, Michelle Hutchinson and Keiran Harris · Published December 22nd, 2017Academic ResearchMeta-causes Global priorities researchProblem areas
Prof Tetlock on predicting catastrophes, why keep your politics secret, and when experts know more than youPodcast by Robert Wiblin · Published November 20th, 2017Academic ResearchCatastrophic RisksDecision-making research & policyImproving Decision MakingPolitics
What are the most important talent gaps in the effective altruism community?Blog post by Robert Wiblin · Published November 3rd, 2017Operations at high impact organisationsPromoting Effective AltruismRoles at effective altruism organisations
Dr Beth Cameron fought Ebola for the White House. Now she works to stop something even worse.Podcast by Robert Wiblin · Published October 25th, 2017Biorisk reductionBiorisk strategy & policyMedical Researcher
You want to do as much good as possible and have billions of dollars. What do you do?Podcast by Robert Wiblin · Published October 11th, 2017Catastrophic RisksFactory FarmingGrantmakerLongtermismOpen Philanthropy Project Global priorities researchPromoting Effective Altruism
Ending factory farming as soon as possiblePodcast by Robert Wiblin · Published September 27th, 2017Animal WelfareFactory FarmingGrantmakerOpen Philanthropy Project
Improving institutional decision-makingProblem profile by Jess Whittlestone · Published September 25th, 2017Decision-making research & policyImproving Decision MakingProblem areas
Julia Galef on making humanity more rational, what EA does wrong, and why Twitter isn’t all badPodcast by Robert Wiblin · Published September 13th, 2017Decision-making research & policyGraduate studyImproving Decision Making
Working at effective non-profitsCareer review by Roman Duda · Published September 9th, 2017CareersOperations at high impact organisationsPromoting Effective AltruismRoles at effective altruism organisations
Making millions for charity each year by working in quant financePodcast by Robert Wiblin · Published August 28th, 2017Earning to give in quant tradingQuantitative hedge funds
Howie Lempel on why we aren’t worried enough about the next pandemic — and specifically what we can do to stop it.Podcast by Robert Wiblin and Howie Lempel · Published August 23rd, 2017Biorisk reductionBiorisk strategy & policyOpen Philanthropy Project
How to train for a job developing AI at OpenAI or DeepMindPodcast by Robert Wiblin · Published July 21st, 2017AI technical safetyArtificial Intelligence
Machine Learning PhDCareer review by Richard Batty · Published June 19th, 2017AI technical safetyArtificial IntelligenceCareers
Working at effective altruist organisationsCareer review by Roman Duda · Published June 19th, 2017CareersOperations at high impact organisationsPromoting Effective AltruismRoles at effective altruism organisations
The Schwarzman Scholarship: An exciting opportunity to learn more about China and get a Masters in Global AffairsBlog post by Robert Wiblin · Published June 13th, 2017China specialistsGovernment
Guide to working in AI policy and strategyKey article by The 80,000 Hours team · Published June 7th, 2017AI policyArtificial Intelligence
The world desperately needs AI strategists. Here’s how to become one.Podcast by Robert Wiblin · Published June 6th, 2017AI policyArtificial IntelligenceGovernmentPolitics
How much do hedge fund traders earn?Blog post by Benjamin Todd · Published May 10th, 2017Asset ManagementEarning to give in quant tradingInvestment BankingQuantitative hedge funds
Building effective altruismProblem profile by Roman Duda · Published March 20th, 2017Meta-causesOperations at high impact organisationsProblem areasPromoting Effective AltruismRoles at effective altruism organisations
What skills are effective altruist organisations short of? Results from our survey.Blog post by Peter McIntyre · Published March 19th, 2017Roles at effective altruism organisations
Some further resources on high-impact careersKey article by The 80,000 Hours team · Published March 12th, 2017Best ResourcesCareersImproving Decision Making Global priorities research
Positively shaping the development of artificial intelligenceProblem profile by Robert Wiblin · Published March 1st, 2017AI policyAI technical safetyArtificial IntelligenceCatastrophic RisksProblem areas
AI safety syllabusKey article by The 80,000 Hours team · Last updated August 2016AI policyAI technical safetyArtificial Intelligence
Global priorities researchProblem profile by Roman Duda · Last updated July 2018Meta-causes Global priorities researchProblem areasResearch
One approach to comparing global problems in terms of expected impactKey article by Robert Wiblin · Last updated October 2019 Global priorities research
Research into risks from artificial intelligenceCareer review by Jess Whittlestone · Published October 14th, 2015AI technical safetyArtificial IntelligenceCareers
Biomedical researchCareer review by Roman Duda · Published August 14th, 2015Biomedical ResearchBiorisk reductionBiorisk strategy & policyScientific research
Trading in quantitative hedge funds (for earning to give)Career review by Benjamin Todd · Published August 28th, 2014CareersEarning to give in quant trading
Improving decision makingKey article by Benjamin Todd · Published August 28th, 2014Decision-making research & policyImproving Decision Making
Promoting effective altruismKey article by Benjamin Todd · Published August 28th, 2014Operations at high impact organisationsPromoting Effective AltruismRoles at effective altruism organisations
Global priorities researchKey article by Benjamin Todd · Published August 28th, 2014 Global priorities research
List of the most urgent global issuesKey article by Benjamin Todd · Last updated August 2018Artificial IntelligenceDecision-making research & policyGlobal Priorities Research Global priorities researchPromoting Effective Altruism
