Existential Risk Observatory Newsletter - Special Holiday addition
Take a look back at 2022 and get a sneak peek of what 2023 will bring the Existential Risk Observatory!
Welcome to our holiday special!
We are excited to share this holiday special with you! Whether you have followed us from the start or have only just met us, here are our highlights of 2022 and a sneak peek of what is happening in 2023. We wish you a very happy festive season and an amazing new year. Let’s try to make sure that 2023 will not be the year of new existential risks, but instead will be known as the year we managed to decrease the chance for existing ones!
2022 - Looking back at an eventful year
In 2022, we made major progress with regards to shaping the foundation itself, but also concerning the work we do and the message we put out. Please find some highlights below!
Our Foundation
We managed to get our first funders on board! A big thanks to Steven Schuurman’s International Center for Future Generations and to the Survival and Flourishing Fund backed by Jaan Tallinn
We invested in research in order to understand existential risks better, through the publication of papers such as “Current and Near-Term AI as a Potential Existential Risk Factor”.
At multiple occasions, we collaborated with knowledgeable people in the field to echo our message, such as prof. as. prof. David Krueger from University of Cambridge, Roman V. Yampolskiy from University of Louisville and Mark Brakel of the Future of Life Institute.
Our Message
We appeared in the media: we placed opinion pieces in Trouw (actually twice by ourselves, and once with the Future of Life Institute), NRC, het Parool, de Telegraaf , de Ingenieur, Bij Nader Inzien and in the US we published in Salon.
You could have also heard us in podcasts and videos, among others here in Martin Skadal’s podcast #3, The Flares #36, De Nieuwe Vrije Eeuw #40
We also wrote several blogs and responses to news articles and research. You can check out those in the News part of our website.
We created recommendations for the Committee of Digital Affairs of the Dutch Parliament for their debate in AI which will now take place in January 2023.
Our Outreach
At EAGxRotterdam, we organised our own workshop with an amazing turnout and a super energising discussion on existential risks.
Our founder talked at the Koninklijke Industrieele Groote Club
We hosted afterwork events for thought leaders, experts, and researchers to exchange ideas.
In case you missed it, we share a nice (and usually light!) piece of reading every Friday on our social channels. Make sure to follow us on your favourite social channel!
2023 - an exciting year ahead
It does sound slightly peculiar to say that the Existential Risk Observatory has an exciting year ahead. We know that, according to research done by Metaculus, humanity only has 25 years left until human-level AI will have been achieved. Climate change is on the brink of being irreversible, which may lead to extreme weather conditions. The Doomsday clock says we are at doom’s doorstep with 100 seconds to midnight, the closer it has ever been. And all of this, of course, does not include what we do not know: Other man-made risks that originate from means yet-to-be invented. But it does seem there is more and more awareness of existential risks and the need to do something about them. The Existential Risk Observatory will contributing to slimming the changes at existential risks and making more people aware of the risks we are facing.
To that end, we will be organising two debates in the Netherlands. More will be revealed in the coming year, but make sure you book a spot in your agenda on:
The 24th of January for our debate in the Hague on human-level AI. This will be in Dudok, the Hague, and will start at 19:00 onwards. Hopefully we will see you there!
The 12th of April for our debate in Amsterdam on existential risks, with journalists, politicians and experts to talk about existential risks. This will be hosted in de Zwijger. More information will follow!
We are making a tremendous effort at impacting public discourse, through op-eds in Dutch, US, and global media. Feedback and ideas are always welcome - both in terms of contacts with people working at news outlets, as well as for the opinion pieces themselves. Also, some exciting co-hosted events are on the agenda for the near future. If you are interested in collaborating on an event with us, please let us know! On top of this, you now have the possibility to donate your time and/or money to support us here.
Everyone at the Existential Risk Observatory wishes you a happy festive season! We would also like to thank all of you who have engaged in our events, volunteered with us, supported us with your time, interned with us, and everyone else that made it possible for the Existential Risk Observatory to do its work. Here’s to an exciting 2023!
