Definition
A Crucial Consideration is an idea or argument with the potential to fundamentally change our view about the topology of desirability for a given action or policy. It is not just an incremental improvement in implementation, but a discovery that may flip the “sign” of our efforts (from positive to negative or vice versa).
Why It Matters
Identifying crucial considerations is vital for strategic planning in high-stakes fields like AI safety. It prevents “sign errors” where well-intentioned efforts accidentally accelerate harm, ensuring that our long-term trajectory remains desirable.
Core Concepts
- General Topology of Desirability: Unlike minor details, a crucial consideration affects the most basic questions of what we should be doing.
- Sign Error Risk: Without strategic illumination, a project may work valiantly for a goal that is actually harmful (e.g., the “Soldier on the wrong side” problem).
- Search for Strategic Light: Because the field of AGI safety is “little prospected,” glimmering crucial considerations may be awaiting discovery just beneath the surface of current thought.
- Cross-Disciplinary Nature: These insights often arise at the intersection of philosophy, mathematics, computer science, and economics.