Hi, I'm an 18 year old going into college in a week. I am studying Computer engineering and mathematics. Since I have a technical interest and AGI has a much higher probability ending humanity this century(1/10, I think) than other causes (that I would rather work on, like Biorisks is 1/10,000), would the utility positive thing to do be to force myself to get an ML alignment focused PhD and become a researcher?
I am at a mid-tier university. I think I could force myself to do AI alignment since I have a little interest, but not as much as the average EA. I wouldn't find as much engagement in it, but I also have an interest in starting a for-profit company, which couldn't happen with AGI alignment (most likely). I would rather work on a hardware/software combo for virus detection (Biorisks), climate change, products for 3rd world, other current problems, or other problems that will be found in the future.
Is it certain enough that AI alignment is so much more important that I should forgo what I think I will be good at/like to pursue it?
Edit: made some people confused that I had a false dichotomy between "pursuing my passion" and doing EA alignment. Removed that comment.
I have been through the 80,000 career guide before. I want to be a for-profit startup founder in an area with a I can move over to CS and Math double major early and focus on ML and ML related research in undergrad. Since it is competitive, especially at top schools, knowing early is better than later. I mostly agree, but disagree a little bit with some of the career capital advice. I think they speak a little too broadly about transferable skills. I don't think I should spend the first 5-10 years of my life tangently related to what I want to do to "build general skills" (unless it is very necessary for what I want to do).
One can build general skills and pursue their original goals at the same time. Startup founders can start pretty young (and there is no correlation between age and success, by the book Super Founders) and still be find in connections and fundraising. There is a risk of getting swept up in what others are doing and forgetting EA and just continue as a regular FAANG/consultant employee. I do plan to look at different potential problem causes during college and keep in mind that there is a risk of pigeonholing too much. But the advantage of pointing in the direction of what I want to do is better than pretending that I can't do any exploring and go a "general college grad route".