Richard Ngo: Alignment Researchers Who Entered Between 2015 and 2022 Are a 'Lost Generation'
RichardMCNgo · x · 2026-09-04
Former OpenAI researcher Richard Ngo called alignment researchers who entered the field between OpenAI's founding (2015) and ChatGPT (2022) a 'lost generation' — too much ideology, too little curiosity. He still sees hope in the best of the next generation, noting many hesitate to fully identify as alignment researchers, which he reads as a good sign; progress comes from peak, not average, performance.
Related event: Ex-OpenAI Researcher Calls Alignment Cohort a 'Lost Generation'(2 posts)→
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