EA Forum Podcast (All audio)

We’re looking to expand our network of collaborators interested in working on strategy questions related to AI safety and governance, as well as AI's intersection with other cause areas we care about—particularly animal welfare, global health and development, and digital sentience. If you have relevant expertise or perspectives and would be open to short-term or long-term contracting or project-based collaboration, we’d love to hear from you. This Expression of Interest form will help us build a pool of aligned contractors we can reach out to as we: * Explore opportunities in AI x Animals and AI x GHD * Bring in talent to support the development of our broader AI strategy * Commission work on cross-cutting questions (e.g., the future value of money, and potential shifts in research productivity) Please submit here (ideally by June 29th). --- First published: June 17th, 2025 Source: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/7oMgFizAEi9mAhaAy/expression-of-interest-rethink-priorities-ai-strategy [https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/7oMgFizAEi9mAhaAy/expression-of-interest-rethink-priorities-ai-strategy?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Source+URL+in+episode+description&utm_campaign=ai_narration] --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO [https://type3.audio/?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Narrated+by+TYPE+III+AUDIO&utm_term=ea_forum&utm_campaign=ai_narration].

Note: the deadline for applications has been extended to June 29th. The Centre for Effective Altruism (CEA) is seeking an experienced leader to join our senior leadership team as the Director of EA Funds. EA Funds is an established grantmaking organization that currently operates as an independent project but is merging into CEA. We wrote about the merger of CEA and EA Funds here, and now we’re looking for an ambitious leader to scale EA Funds and move (at least) hundreds of millions of dollars. Apply now About EA Funds and CEA Effective Altruism Funds (EA Funds) is an existing foundation that directs financial resources to particularly cost-effective and altruistically impactful projects. The platform makes funding accessible for high-impact projects and maintains specialized funds in key focus areas, managed by subject-matter experts who identify the highest-impact opportunities. EA Funds is composed of four separate funds: the EA Infrastructure Fund [...] --- Outline: (00:47) About EA Funds and CEA (04:10) Key Responsibilities (04:13) Transition Leadership (05:07) Team Leadership (05:33) Grantmaking (06:04) Stakeholder Relations (06:27) Strategic Alignment (06:49) What we're looking for --- First published: June 19th, 2025 Source: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/Z6xqJXy7t7aau4pha/cea-is-hiring-for-a-director-of-ea-funds [https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/Z6xqJXy7t7aau4pha/cea-is-hiring-for-a-director-of-ea-funds?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Source+URL+in+episode+description&utm_campaign=ai_narration] --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO [https://type3.audio/?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Narrated+by+TYPE+III+AUDIO&utm_term=ea_forum&utm_campaign=ai_narration].

Once we expand to other star systems, we may begin a self-propagating expansion of human civilisation throughout the galaxy. However, there are existential risks potentially capable of destroying a galactic civilisation, like self-replicating machines, strange matter, and vacuum decay. Without an extremely widespread and effective governance system, the eventual creation of a galaxy-ending x-risk seems almost inevitable due to cumulative chances of initiation over time and across multiple independent actors. So galactic x-risks may severely limit the total potential value that human civilisation can attain in the long-term future. The requirements for a governance system to prevent galactic x-risks are outlined, and updates for space governance and big picture cause prioritisation are discussed. Introduction I recently came across a series of posts from nearly a decade ago, starting with a post by George Dvorsky in io9 called “12 Ways Humanity Could Destroy the Entire Solar System”. It's a [...] --- Outline: (01:00) Introduction (03:07) Existential risks to a Galactic Civilisation (03:58) Threats Limited to a One Planet Civilisation (04:33) Threats to a small Spacefaring Civilisation (07:02) Galactic Existential Risks (07:22) Self-replicating machines (09:27) Strange matter (10:36) Vacuum decay (11:42) Subatomic Particle Decay (12:32) Time travel (13:12) Fundamental Physics Alterations (13:57) Interactions with Other Universes (15:54) Societal Collapse or Loss of Value (16:25) Artificial Superintelligence (18:15) Conflict with alien intelligence (19:06) Unknowns (21:04) What is the probability that galactic x-risks I listed are actually possible? (22:03) What is the probability that an x-risk will occur? (22:07) What are the factors? (23:06) Cumulative Chances (24:49) If aliens exist, there is no long-term future (26:13) The Way Forward (31:34) Some key takeaways and hot takes to disagree with me on The original text contained 76 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: June 18th, 2025 Source: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/x7YXxDAwqAQJckdkr/galactic-x-risks-obstacles-to-accessing-the-cosmic-endowment [https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/x7YXxDAwqAQJckdkr/galactic-x-risks-obstacles-to-accessing-the-cosmic-endowment?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Source+URL+in+episode+description&utm_campaign=ai_narration] --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO [https://type3.audio/?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Narrated+by+TYPE+III+AUDIO&utm_term=ea_forum&utm_campaign=ai_narration]. --- Images from the article: Credit: calvin mccarter https://calvinmccarter.writeas.com/grabby-aliens-or-false-vacuum-decay-bubbles [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/x7YXxDAwqAQJckdkr/cfylxhnh7q6jmph4iqp4]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/x7YXxDAwqAQJckdkr/cfylxhnh7q6jmph4iqp4 ---------------------------------------- Bar graph showing cosmic threats discovered from 1640-2120, with peak around 1980-2000. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/x7YXxDAwqAQJckdkr/ihsvslev9mg7cmuyqbfd]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/x7YXxDAwqAQJckdkr/ihsvslev9mg7cmuyqbfd ---------------------------------------- Graph showing probability P(t) over time with three different curves marked x300,000,000, x2, and x1. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/x7YXxDAwqAQJckdkr/jceejv0kornhabhzgvwn]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/x7YXxDAwqAQJckdkr/jceejv0kornhabhzgvwn Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not show images in the episode description. Try Pocket Casts [https://pocketcasts.com/], or another podcast app.

This is a link post. Thank you to Arepo and Eli Lifland for looking over this article for errors. I am sorry that this article is so long. Every time I thought I was done with it I ran into more issues with the model, and I wanted to be as thorough as I could. I’m not going to blame anyone for skimming parts of this article. Note that the majority of this article was written before Eli's updated model was released (the site was updated june 8th). His new model improves on some of my objections, but the majority still stand. Introduction: AI 2027 is an article written by the “AI futures team”. The primary piece is a short story penned by Scott Alexander, depicting a month by month scenario of a near-future where AI becomes superintelligent in 2027,proceeding to automate the entire economy in only [...] --- Outline: (00:45) Introduction: (05:27) Part 1: Time horizons extension model (05:33) Overview of their forecast (10:23) The exponential curve (13:25) The superexponential curve (20:20) Conceptual reasons: (28:38) Intermediate speedups (36:00) Have AI 2027 been sending out a false graph? (41:50) Some skepticism about projection (46:13) Part 2: Benchmarks and gaps and beyond (46:19) The benchmark part of benchmark and gaps: (52:53) The time horizon part of the model (58:02) The gap model (01:00:58) What about Eli's recent update? (01:05:19) Six stories that fit the data (01:10:46) Conclusion The original text contained 11 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: June 19th, 2025 Source: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/a-deep-critique-of-ai-2027-s-bad-timeline-models [https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/a-deep-critique-of-ai-2027-s-bad-timeline-models?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Source+URL+in+episode+description&utm_campaign=ai_narration] Linkpost URL: https://titotal.substack.com/p/a-deep-critique-of-ai-2027s-bad-timeline [https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/out?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftitotal.substack.com%2Fp%2Fa-deep-critique-of-ai-2027s-bad-timeline] --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO [https://type3.audio/?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Narrated+by+TYPE+III+AUDIO&utm_term=ea_forum&utm_campaign=ai_narration]. --- Images from the article: Mathematical formula showing calculation of 'n' using logarithms and variables. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/qsa4u3q10rqojrxagome]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/qsa4u3q10rqojrxagome ---------------------------------------- Chemical formula showing H equals H₂O, stylized with blue shading. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/lcfiquc0zshmbo1wrx9c]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/lcfiquc0zshmbo1wrx9c ---------------------------------------- Mathematical equation showing H(minutes) equals 15 times a decay function. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/gqjsqv47pgcoyp6psk3m]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/gqjsqv47pgcoyp6psk3m ---------------------------------------- Mathematical equation showing relationship between H, H₀, alpha, t, and T₀. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/m71nepbzhrshympr2tat]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/m71nepbzhrshympr2tat ---------------------------------------- [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/zpfzsmvqyqnuyyvezor3]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/zpfzsmvqyqnuyyvezor3 ---------------------------------------- Mathematical equation showing change in momentum equals force times change in time [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/fvnitrt0mevsp4nw5kml]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/fvnitrt0mevsp4nw5kml ---------------------------------------- Mathematical equation showing time function t(n) with period notation [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/zlmgflrtrczezynnqvwk]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/zlmgflrtrczezynnqvwk ---------------------------------------- Mathematical equation showing time function t(n) equals sum from n=0 [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/k4qmndgmbrvtuvlbdq5m]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/k4qmndgmbrvtuvlbdq5m ---------------------------------------- Line graph comparing original and adjusted data for internal release gap. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/wrrfo3umhqsdl60uszbr]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/wrrfo3umhqsdl60uszbr ---------------------------------------- Graph showing AI model task completion times versus release dates, 2019-2027, featuring multiple models. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/e5gxkatti3bkx1g9bib6]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/e5gxkatti3bkx1g9bib6 ---------------------------------------- Mathematical equation showing V total equals V avg plus 1 divided by 2 [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/e9man8fzlwfrisupaf15]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/e9man8fzlwfrisupaf15 ---------------------------------------- Probability density graph titled [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/umjg7spwouwrckimf5b3]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/umjg7spwouwrckimf5b3 ---------------------------------------- Mathematical equation showing algebraic terminal velocity calculation formula. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/vamcczwncfpatrrve9au]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/vamcczwncfpatrrve9au ---------------------------------------- Graph titled [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/oqqacfjvbrkw5tzgp6ys]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/oqqacfjvbrkw5tzgp6ys ---------------------------------------- Graph showing [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/ri04wfxof4lbmfdnfpll]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/ri04wfxof4lbmfdnfpll ---------------------------------------- Graph titled [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/enywcsgveqwsn3tzopzq]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/enywcsgveqwsn3tzopzq ---------------------------------------- Graph showing model curves and speedups data, titled [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/swmbgbydjn2mcslqna5f]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/swmbgbydjn2mcslqna5f ---------------------------------------- Mathematical formula showing entropy (H) equals H zero two to T [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/wzz6ny8unoc1i4hlek7x]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/wzz6ny8unoc1i4hlek7x ---------------------------------------- Graph titled [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/vzyj6yb523bissfi9uam]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/vzyj6yb523bissfi9uam ---------------------------------------- Graph showing AI coding task completion times from 2021-2028, titled [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/cn4uvs7vxt1mssgrztvm]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/cn4uvs7vxt1mssgrztvm ---------------------------------------- Mathematical equation showing relationship between H, H₀, alpha, t, and T₀. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/m71nepbzhrshympr2tat]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/m71nepbzhrshympr2tat ---------------------------------------- Timeline diagram showing AI progress gaps from Re-Bench Saturation to Superhuman Coder. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/vrxaida1wodcg0rorors]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/vrxaida1wodcg0rorors ---------------------------------------- Complex mathematical equation with H and H₀ variables and exponential terms. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/w61ahpvs02yfb3fsucre]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/w61ahpvs02yfb3fsucre ---------------------------------------- Mathematical equation showing H equals H subscript 0 plus time function [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/e2fjhnj3zlkshfoqtfci]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/e2fjhnj3zlkshfoqtfci ---------------------------------------- Graph showing [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/rxytgztt9ud7xo7fggdm]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/rxytgztt9ud7xo7fggdm ---------------------------------------- Graph showing [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/estj7fep52q7ebu9myg0]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/estj7fep52q7ebu9myg0 ---------------------------------------- Graph titled [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/g25ipjz7tmiks9kz0ei9]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/g25ipjz7tmiks9kz0ei9 ---------------------------------------- Graph showing [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/uwinfsazbhqo1hx3cpxq]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/uwinfsazbhqo1hx3cpxq ---------------------------------------- Graph showing time horizon projections with exponential and hyperexponential curves through 2030. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/smifgn2plqwcdsf5mutk]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/smifgn2plqwcdsf5mutk ---------------------------------------- Graph titled [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/t0n1gaynl72toyyon7pc]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/t0n1gaynl72toyyon7pc ---------------------------------------- Graph showing [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/oa1fb4bajstcvpsrhdvl]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/oa1fb4bajstcvpsrhdvl ---------------------------------------- Text excerpt discussing METR suite's LOC scaling and doubling time calculations. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/kktyxu37bl7dmilazgnd]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/kktyxu37bl7dmilazgnd ---------------------------------------- Statistical distribution graph showing predicted date for crossing score 1.5, centered around 2026-2027. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/yyudnea5bfvxrd5rf0ff]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/yyudnea5bfvxrd5rf0ff ---------------------------------------- [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/ie6v1hyycskwcmehti6q]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/ie6v1hyycskwcmehti6q ---------------------------------------- Graph titled [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/igis8ncatvoohdcdpdll]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/igis8ncatvoohdcdpdll ---------------------------------------- Graph showing METR data with exponential and superexponential trend lines through 2030. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/vbd1mdwtx4wbykeqgw18]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/vbd1mdwtx4wbykeqgw18 ---------------------------------------- Graph showing [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/zk4wzpc9quglezticifm]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/zk4wzpc9quglezticifm ---------------------------------------- Graph showing time horizon projections with six different curve models, 2019-2032. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/lsh3m5lgfkbwiy8pciqm]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/lsh3m5lgfkbwiy8pciqm ---------------------------------------- Probability distribution graph titled [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/moptosrui3ozmskpnhem]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/moptosrui3ozmskpnhem ---------------------------------------- Graph showing time horizon projections with exponential and hyperexponential curves through 2030. [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/cvl2aixbprljw9chrxfh]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/KgejNns3ojrvCfFbi/cvl2aixbprljw9chrxfh Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not show images in the episode description. 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This is a link post. This is a crosspost for In Defense of "Sweatshops" by Benjamin Powell, which was originally published on Econlib on 2 June 2008. For the full treatment, see Benjamin's book Out of Poverty: Sweatshops in the Global Economy (Cambridge Studies in Economics, Choice, and Society). “Because sweatshops are better than the available alternatives, any reforms aimed at improving the lives of workers in sweatshops must not jeopardize the jobs that they already have.” I do not want to work in a third world “sweatshop.” If you are reading this on a computer, chances are you don’t either. Sweatshops have deplorable working conditions and extremely low pay—compared to the alternative employment available to me and probably you. That is why we choose not to work in sweatshops. All too often the fact that we have better alternatives leads first world activists to conclude that there must be [...] --- Outline: (02:43) What are the Alternatives to Sweatshops? (06:34) What Determines Wages and Compensation? (14:09) Conclusion The original text contained 10 footnotes which were omitted from this narration. --- First published: June 18th, 2025 Source: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/8HYP9m6BjZ9oxpNR7/in-defense-of-sweatshops [https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/8HYP9m6BjZ9oxpNR7/in-defense-of-sweatshops?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Source+URL+in+episode+description&utm_campaign=ai_narration] Linkpost URL: https://www.econlib.org/library/Columns/y2008/Powellsweatshops.html [https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/out?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.econlib.org%2Flibrary%2FColumns%2Fy2008%2FPowellsweatshops.html] --- Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO [https://type3.audio/?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Narrated+by+TYPE+III+AUDIO&utm_term=ea_forum&utm_campaign=ai_narration]. --- Images from the article: Bar graph: [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/8HYP9m6BjZ9oxpNR7/o7ro6baiof32wb9g5fmn]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/8HYP9m6BjZ9oxpNR7/o7ro6baiof32wb9g5fmn ---------------------------------------- Bar graph: [https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/8HYP9m6BjZ9oxpNR7/eok0gx14cgnz0mhpmca9]https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/8HYP9m6BjZ9oxpNR7/eok0gx14cgnz0mhpmca9 Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not show images in the episode description. Try Pocket Casts [https://pocketcasts.com/], or another podcast app.