Post #4486191

2026-08-09 21:58 UTC

I've only really seen Pivot to AI pick up on this, but Hank Green has some tangental involvement with "Effective Alturists." One big aspect of Effective altruism (EA) is AI doomerism. AI is a world changing technology (they believe) and we need to take it seriously in *that* way or ... terrible things may happen. That doomerism is also a different kind of effective marketing for AI concerns me deeply.

Replies (4)

@jstevenyork@mastodon.social 2026-08-09 22:07

@futurebird@sauropods.win I really like Hank Green, and this turn really bothers me. I don't even want to investigate it too closely because I know it's going to change how I feel about his stuff.

Open ##4486190
@futurebird@sauropods.win 2026-08-09 22:02

Pivot to AI highlighted a WaPo article that talked about how Hank was among some youTube influencers supported by a group called Frame which is linked directly to EA. This has had a noticeable impact on his content... something I noticed without knowing about the connection a month ago. To me this is the real issue. Doomerism is just Boosterism with a D rather than a B. It's buying into the illusion. And it is scaring people, which seems manipulative. https://sauropods.win/@futurebird/116885086560257189

Open ##4503103
@mycrowgirl@flipping.rocks 2026-08-09 22:18

@futurebird@sauropods.win the HG knitting fiasco (and his non-apology for how badly he fucked that entire situation up) is what finally drove me to block his content all together. Just another dude who parrots whatever the echochamber says, and deflects responsibility when it invariably bites him in the ass.

Open ##4503109
@ehproque@neopaquita.es 2026-08-10 06:46

@futurebird@sauropods.win I've always thought so, "AI IS SO DANGEROUS IT'S GOING TO DESTROY THE WORLD buy it before your adversary does"

Open ##4503111