The Singularity Institute Blog

Luke Muehlhauser: Robin, you’ve been donating $200 a month since August 2004. That adds up to more than $20,000, making you our 8th largest publicly listed donor! Why do you support the Singularity Institute like this?

Robin Powell: I honestly believe that a beneficial Singularity is the best hope that humanity has for long-term survival. Having spent hundreds of hours researching the various people and groups that are actively working on Singularity-related issues, the Singularity Institute is the only one that I really feel has their eyes on the right ball, which is the Friendly AI problem. I feel confident that my donations are the most effective way I can possibly aid in the best possible future for humanity.

Luke: What do you give up each month in order to donate $200/mo to the Singularity Institute?

Robin: Mostly I’ve been able to get by when things got complicated by re-budgeting, but I’ve had to do that rather a lot more often then I would have had to otherwise.

Luke: What challenges have you faced since August 2004, while continuing to donate $200 a month?

Robin: The time that I took off a couple of months to help my aging father, without pay, was by far the hardest; the extra money would really have helped then. But for me it’s about expected return: when the future of the human race is in the balance, having to borrow from friends briefly or similar hardships seem pretty inconsequential.

Luke: What one thought would you most like to share with the community of people who care about reducing existential risks?

Robin: AI is coming, relatively soon. There is no more important task for humanity than to prevent our extinction and preserve a better version of our values. Now is the time to spend time and money protecting the future of humanity. Please help us.

Luke: Thanks for your time, Robin, and thanks for your continued support!