Read a great article from Luke Burgis about AI and Effective Altruism.
I have also mused about this topic in the past.
Rest assured that you don’t have to be a foot soldier in the Effective Altruism (EA) movement to be doing work that matters. Because EA — the formal movement — rejects what really matters about altruism — the human heart. Truly effective altruism defies objective metrics, as does work that matters.
Each revels in investment, purpose, and empathy. In the realm of significant work and altruism, it’s not the calculated strategy that triumphs. It’s the emotionally charged, human-led endeavor. It’s not the cold data, but the warm, resonating human touch that truly makes a difference.
It’s about our individual and collective human capacity to help others. It’s personal, subjective, and emotionally driven. Truly effective altruism and work that matters invite us to bring our full, authentic selves to the table. To embrace our emotions, harness our passions, and contribute to a cause greater than ourselves — whether that cause is an outward facing mission, inward on the team, or simply within the confines of one’s family and friends. It’s not about fitting into a predetermined box, nor adhering to computed numbers, but about celebrating our humanity, making a difference, and adding value where we can.
This is the essence of work that matters and true effective altruism.
