Ensuring AI goes well does not only require technical skills. Every technical choice rests on philosophical assumptions that technical training does not prepare you to examine. If those assumptions are wrong, then technical excellence alone is not enough.
This reading group is an opportunity to explore those questions in depth. Over the course of 8 weeks, we will study, discuss, and debate some of these philosophical questions. We will go through topics such as consciousness, the alignment problem, agency, the control problem, power and governance, and what a genuinely good future might look like. The readings include a mix of papers, essays, book chapters, and YouTube videos from philosophy and AI safety, complemented by guest talks from researchers working in the field. Many of the readings and speakers disagree with each other. That is intentional. The goal isn't to convince you of a particular view, but to help you understand the landscape, think more clearly about these questions, and figure out where you stand and where you might be able to contribute.
If you’re already interested in participating or helping run a session, please consider **applying here.**
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APPLICATION DEADLINE: 15th of July.
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Each week, participants receive a set of readings in advance. These include a mix of philosophy papers, AI safety research, essays, and occasionally book chapters or YouTube videos. The readings are intentionally chosen to present different perspectives, sometimes opposite ones, on the same question.
The main session lasts 90 minutes and takes place online in groups of 6–7 participants, together with a facilitator. It is discussion-based rather than lecture-based, so everyone is expected to come having done the readings. Preparing for each session typically takes no more than 3 hours.
Most weeks also include optional follow-up sessions with researchers working in that area. These may include Q&A, open discussion, or structured debates between participants, researchers, or both. They are optional, but we strongly encourage attending them.
We're looking for participants and facilitators for the next cohort.
If you want to join as a participant or would like to facilitate a session, please apply here. Spots are limited and are reviewed on a rolling basis, so please apply as soon as possible.
If you have any feedback, would like to get involved in another way, or simply want to get in touch, feel free to reach out at [email protected].