What I’m up to

Summer in Berkeley

I’m spending around half of my summer here, outside of the New York trip below and some time at home. I’ve had the chance to meet a lot of great people, and also to see some of the same friends I made in New York.

I’ve been asking around the AI safety community to help people with whatever projects they have in mind. Lately that’s included negotiating pickleball court reservation prices, building a program to help people newer to AI safety get out to the Bay (for people in situations similar to mine), and encouraging more people to apply for microgrants to help AI go well.

Volunteering for Bores

Spent time in NYC canvassing for Alex Bores because of his extremely good stances on animal rights and AI safety. It ended up being a really fun experience with Tech Week, the historic Knicks championship, and I also just generally enjoyed the atmosphere and feel of the city.

Field notes: how to pass as a New Yorker. A few things you must know if the plan is to blend in:

• Bagel spread is schmear.
• Mind your pronunciation of bagel: it’s “Bae,” not “Bah.”
• Have a take on the best bagel spot.
• Pizza is the other area where you must have a take.
• Drop that you’re a New Yorker and that “this is New York” to test whether someone else really is one. (This exact test was run on me, by a fellow canvasser, Ellie, on poll day.)