#18 - Ofir Reich on using data science to end poverty & the spurious action-inaction distinction

#18 - Ofir Reich on using data science to end poverty & the spurious action-inaction distinction

Ofir Reich started out doing math in the military, before spending 8 years in tech startups - but then made a sharp turn to become a data scientist focussed on helping the global poor.

At UC Berkeley’s Center for Effective Global Action he helps prevent tax evasion by identifying fake companies in India, enable Afghanistan to pay its teachers electronically, and raise yields for Ethiopian farmers by messaging them when local conditions make it ideal to apply fertiliser. Or at least that’s the hope - he’s also working on ways to test whether those interventions actually work.

Full post about this episode, including a transcript and relevant links to learn more.

Why dedicate his life to helping the global poor?

Ofir sees little moral difference between harming people and failing to help them. After all, if you had to press a button to keep all of your money from going to charity, and you pressed that button, would that be an action, or an inaction? Is there even an answer?

After reflecting on cases like this, he decided that to not engage with a problem is an active choice, one whose consequences he is just as morally responsible for as if he were directly involved. On top of his life philosophy we also discuss:

* The benefits of working in a top academic environment
* How best to start a career in global development
* Are RCTs worth the money? Should we focus on big picture policy change instead? Or more economic theory?
* How the delivery standards of nonprofits compare to top universities
* Why he doesn’t enjoy living in the San Francisco bay area
* How can we fix the problem of most published research being false?
* How good a career path is data science?
* How important is experience in development versus technical skills?
* How he learned much of what he needed to know in the army
* How concerned should effective altruists be about burnout?

Keiran Harris helped produce today’s episode.

Jaksot(326)

#29 - Anders Sandberg on 3 new resolutions for the Fermi paradox & how to colonise the universe

#29 - Anders Sandberg on 3 new resolutions for the Fermi paradox & how to colonise the universe

Part 2 out now: #33 - Dr Anders Sandberg on what if we ended ageing, solar flares & the annual risk of nuclear war The universe is so vast, yet we don’t see any alien civilizations. If they exist, whe...

8 Touko 20181h 21min

#28 - Owen Cotton-Barratt on why scientists should need insurance, PhD strategy & fast AI progresses

#28 - Owen Cotton-Barratt on why scientists should need insurance, PhD strategy & fast AI progresses

A researcher is working on creating a new virus – one more dangerous than any that exist naturally. They believe they’re being as careful as possible. After all, if things go wrong, their own life and...

27 Huhti 20181h 3min

#27 - Dr Tom Inglesby on careers and policies that reduce global catastrophic biological risks

#27 - Dr Tom Inglesby on careers and policies that reduce global catastrophic biological risks

How about this for a movie idea: a main character has to prevent a new contagious strain of Ebola spreading around the world. She’s the best of the best. So good in fact, that her work on early detect...

18 Huhti 20182h 16min

#26 - Marie Gibbons on how exactly clean meat is made & what's needed to get it in every supermarket

#26 - Marie Gibbons on how exactly clean meat is made & what's needed to get it in every supermarket

First, decide on the type of animal. Next, pick the cell type. Then take a small, painless biopsy, and put the cells in a solution that makes them feel like they’re still in the body. Once the cells a...

10 Huhti 20181h 44min

#25 - Robin Hanson on why we have to lie to ourselves about why we do what we do

#25 - Robin Hanson on why we have to lie to ourselves about why we do what we do

On February 2, 1685, England’s King Charles II was struck by a sudden illness. Fortunately his physicians were the best of the best. To reassure the public they kept them abreast of the King’s treatme...

28 Maalis 20182h 39min

#24 - Stefan Schubert on why it’s a bad idea to break the rules, even if it’s for a good cause

#24 - Stefan Schubert on why it’s a bad idea to break the rules, even if it’s for a good cause

How honest should we be? How helpful? How friendly? If our society claims to value honesty, for instance, but in reality accepts an awful lot of lying – should we go along with those lax standards? Or...

20 Maalis 201855min

#23 - How to actually become an AI alignment researcher, according to Dr Jan Leike

#23 - How to actually become an AI alignment researcher, according to Dr Jan Leike

Want to help steer the 21st century’s most transformative technology? First complete an undergrad degree in computer science and mathematics. Prioritize harder courses over easier ones. Publish at lea...

16 Maalis 201845min

#22 - Leah Utyasheva on the non-profit that figured out how to massively cut suicide rates

#22 - Leah Utyasheva on the non-profit that figured out how to massively cut suicide rates

How people kill themselves varies enormously depending on which means are most easily available. In the United States, suicide by firearm stands out. In Hong Kong, where most people live in high rise ...

7 Maalis 20181h 8min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

rss-murhan-anatomia
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
rss-narsisti
psykopodiaa-podcast
adhd-podi
rahapuhetta
rss-uskonto-on-tylsaa
rss-liian-kuuma-peruna
rss-rahamania
kesken
rss-vapaudu-voimaasi
rss-niinku-asia-on
salainen-paivakirja
rss-duodecim-lehti
rss-tietoinen-yhteys-podcast-2
rss-koira-haudattuna
aloita-meditaatio
mielipaivakirja
esa-saarinen-filosofia-ja-systeemiajattelu
filocast-filosofian-perusteet