This is a crosspost from the new Animal Welfare Alignment Newsletter by Anima International. You can subscribe on Substack if you are interested in following these efforts. Audio reading also available on Substack.
The goals of this post are to:
1. Raise a question I see as crucially important to the goal of aligning AI to animal welfare...
“How long have you been v*g*n?”
This is one of the most common icebreakers at animal protection events. It’s a baseline assumption, and it mostly holds true: if you’re out advocating for animals not to be tortured or abused, realistically these days you are v**n, or close. And it makes for good conversation. It seems fairly safe to assume when you meet strangers.
But this assumption is hurting the movement in a way which we don’t always notice: someone new comes into the sp...
Summary
Back in November 2023 I posted here to launch Spiro and raise our first $198k. Two and a half years later this is an update and a fundraiser for the next step.
The short version: we've now reached over-5,900 people with TB preventive medicine, including over 3,000 children under five years old. Our early results have held up well an...
The Futurekind AI Fellowship is a 12-week learning & professional development journey created by AI safety education org Electric Sheep. It introduces you to the rapidly developing intersection of AI & animal welfare– & arms you with future-proof knowledge & project mentorship to accelerate your career. Here's what's on offer:
The learning blockof the fellowship (weeks 1-6) introduces participants to current & emerging AI applications with significant implications for animals, such as in optimising factory farming or decoding animal communication. Learners are introduced to powerful AI tools for animal advocacy, &, in the last session, explore impactful career pathways at the AI/animals frontier.
In the project block of the fellowship (weeks 7-12), participants transition from learners to doers. Over the course of this project sprint, participants prepare a final work drawing on what they have learned during the course: a concrete contribution to animal welfare & protection. To support their research, collaboration, & project development, participants will have access to ChatNGO, a powerful AI platform tailored for nonprofits, generously provided by Stray Dog Institute. On top of this, participants will also receive tailored mentorship from leading professionals across academia, industry, & other sectors who will guide your project development & career building.
Session format
Sessions consist in weekly facilitated discussions (1.5-2 hours).
Readings & pre-session exercises will take 2-3 hours per week.
Apart from this, there will also be optional workshops, webinars, & Q&As with senior researchers & practitioners from key career fields.
No technical knowledge is needed to participate. If you're unsure about your fit, we encourage you to apply anyway! We welcome participants from a variety of backgrounds.
Program
Week 1. What AI Means for Animals: The Present & Near Future
