Eliezer Yudkowsky, a prominent artificial intelligence researcher and writer known for his work on AI safety and societal inefficiencies, has voiced a stark concern regarding the current state of leadership and governance. In a recent social media post, Yudkowsky lamented a perceived failure of modern elites and government to fulfill their responsibilities, drawing a direct contrast with historical philanthropists.
"And our entrepreneurial billionaires and hereditary nobles have become lost and abandoned duty, just like our government; and so there will be no Carnegie or Gates to take over the derelict government functions," Yudkowsky stated in his tweet. He concluded the post by expressing a wish to be proven wrong about his assessment.
Yudkowsky, a research fellow at the Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI), has long been a vocal critic of systemic inadequacies, notably explored in his 2017 e-book Inadequate Equilibria. His work often highlights how institutions can produce suboptimal outcomes even with well-intentioned individuals. His primary focus remains on the existential risks posed by advanced AI, which he believes humanity is ill-prepared to manage.
The tweet specifically invokes Andrew Carnegie, the 19th-century industrialist who famously articulated "The Gospel of Wealth," advocating for the rich to use their fortunes for societal betterment. Carnegie gave away nearly 90% of his vast wealth, funding public libraries, educational institutions, and peace initiatives, often filling roles that might otherwise fall to public services. His philanthropy was characterized by a belief in private initiative over government intervention in charity.
Similarly, Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, has dedicated much of his post-Microsoft career to philanthropy through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, one of the world's largest private charitable organizations. The Gates Foundation focuses on global health, poverty reduction, and education, often working in collaboration with governments and other non-profits. However, Gates himself has acknowledged the limitations of private philanthropy, stating that "no philanthropic organization—even one the size of the Gates Foundation—can make up the gulf in funding that's emerging right now" due to cuts in government aid.
Yudkowsky's remarks suggest a deepening crisis where both public and private sectors are failing to address critical societal needs, leaving a void that neither is equipped or willing to fill. His concern underscores a broader anxiety about the capacity of contemporary institutions and wealthy individuals to tackle complex, large-scale problems in an increasingly challenging world.