Tyler Cowen defends EA as 'directionally correct' on AI safety, Nielsen weighs in
michael_nielsen · x · 2026-10-07
Tyler Cowen published a take defending effective altruism as "directionally correct, even if you should not follow its recommendations all the way," crediting EA for pushing AI safety early. Michael Nielsen amplified it, agreeing with the bottom line and noting EAs were sounding the AI safety alarm years before most others—proof, per Cowen's closing line, that "interesting and valuable ideas" spring from weird places.
Nielsen also admits EAs can be offputtingly arrogant, which is why Open Philanthropy practices "worldview diversification." Critics quipped Cowen was "self-recommending as usual."
Related event: Tyler Cowen Defends Effective Altruism(2 posts)→
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