Effective altruism's apocalyptic AI outlook spreads through Silicon Valley

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Silicon Valley is currently marked by apocalyptic thinking, with the latest wave of AI doom concerns driven largely by effective altruism. The philosophy, which has long existed on the fringes, has moved into the mainstream because its adherents work across major AI firms, including Anthropic and the AI safety watchdog METR. Effective altruism is a utilitarian approach to charity that aims to do the most good for the most people over the longest period. Its followers view preventing an AI-driven catastrophe as essential to saving as many lives as possible. The article also notes a rival apocalyptic worldview circulating among tech leaders.

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