FAQ: Advice for AI alignment researchers

Abstract

The article discusses career advice for AI alignment researchers. In order to become involved in technical alignment research, most individuals would pursue either a research lead role or a research helper role. Research lead roles are obtained typically by having a PhD in AI or similar but may also be given to individuals who have demonstrated extensive research contributions. Despite this, several individuals without PhDs have been identified as research leads. Often, research lead roles will focus on generating research agendas and themes for the alignment research field. In contrast, research helper roles generally involve executing the research projects proposed by research leads and require less research experience and/or education. The article notes that, except at ARC, roles for conceptual research helpers are relatively uncommon. It is worth noting that a research lead role can be more related to research taste, while a research helper role can be more related to research skill. PhDs are often necessary for research lead positions due to the difficulty of learning research skills outside of PhD programs. Alternative methods to gain the necessary skills for a research lead position include mentorship programs and/or independent research. In certain circumstances, it may be possible to shift from a research helper role to a research lead role, but this is relatively uncommon. – AI-generated abstract.