Stop Donating to AI Safety Research*
Summary
The author argues that AI safety donors should shift funding from 501(c)(3) research organizations to 501(c)(4) political advocacy to counter industry lobbying.
Key quotes
The highest-leverage path for donors looking to give to AI safety right now is to give less money, but to more neglected destinations.
Without legislation, every safety advance is effectively optional— a recommendation companies can take or leave depending on competitive pressure.
The post compares the funding levels of AI safety research versus political advocacy, highlighting a significant asymmetry between safety-aligned lobbying and industry spending. It provides a mathematical framework for donors to calculate the personal cost equivalent of switching from c3 to c4 donations.