Silas Barta

It’s been a while since we had one of these! Let’s have a concept day, where you share useful concepts that have helped clarify and focus your thought. Examples from ones we’ve discussed in the past: Nash equilibrium: a situation where no one can improve by changing their behavior alone. Superstimulus: something that is finely […]

(Infohazard: something you could be game-theoretically hurt by learning of.) As an annual Halloween tradition, our group likes to discuss our favorite “spooky” parts of rationality — the things you’ve learned in this area that scare you. To repeat the whirlwind tour of examples: Moloch, the problem you can’t help but contribute to! Abandon all hope ye

Before the meetup, some of us will be meeting in the park behind Central Market to watch the eclipse. It will start at 10:23am, peak at 11:54, and then end at 1:32pm. Come join us, and bring your viewing equipment! Other than that, no particular topic; just share your favorite rationalist ideas and takes on

How do you do, fellow kids? Before LessWrong, there was the Extropy Institute. Before that, probably something else. What’s next? LessWrong has its roots in 00s internet culture. Which lessons have stood the test of time, and what needs updating to be relevant to the next generation? Or is there a new up-and-coming scene that’ll replace

This will take place from 12pm-5pm and replaces the usual cafe meetup.  Please refer to the LessWrong page for the event, and RSVP if possible: https://www.lesswrong.com/events/Wsb3FAgwJeJjKS3ia/austin-texas-usa-acx-meetups-everywhere-fall-2023

Reminder: We are back to Central Market (north) for this one. See footnote. This Saturday, the topic is AI Alignment, i.e. how we get artificial general intelligences to act in a way consistent with human values.  It’s been a longtime focus of LessWrong and its founder, Eliezer Yudkowsky. Chris Canal will be present to lead

Per the ACX Substack post, this year’s ACX Everywhere Fall meetup will be this month on September 30, and will replace the usual Saturday meetup. Date: Saturday, September 30, 2023 Time: 12 pm to 5 pm. Location: Park area by ponds behind Central Market north, 4001 N. Lamar. (see link below for specifics) Please see

NOTE: We are going to try Whole Foods Cafe again (the Domain one): 11920 Domain Dr, Austin, TX 78758. There is parking on site or at any of the Domain’s parking garages. Topic: Time to revisit our LLM/ChatGPT models from several months ago. What have you been doing with them, and what tips can you

Note: We return to Central Market for this meetup. It’s been a year since last time, so we’re going to use this meetup to practice the Double Crux technique of disagreement resolution. In this technique, you try to find some fact that, if you could be convinced of it, you’d change your mind (or at least would