Joe Carlsmith Audio

On restraining AI development for the sake of safety

My take on slowing down AI. Text version here: https://joecarlsmith.com/2026/03/19/on-restraining-ai-development-for-the-sake-of-safety/

Building AIs that do human-like philosophy

AIs will face philosophical questions humans can't answer for them. Text version here: https://joecarlsmith.com/2026/01/29/building-ais-that-do-human-like-philosophy

How human-like do safe AI motivations need to be?

AIs with alien motivations can still follow instructions safely on the inputs that matter. Text version here: https://joecarlsmith.com/2025/11/12/how-human-like-do-safe-a

Leaving Open Philanthropy, going to Anthropic

On a career move, and on AI-safety-focused people working at AI companies. Text version here: https://joecarlsmith.com/2025/11/03/leaving-open-philanthropy-going-to-anthr

Controlling the options AIs can pursue

On boxing AIs, and on making deals with them. Text version here: https://joecarlsmith.com/2025/09/29/controlling-the-options-ais-can-pursue

Giving AIs safe motivations

A four-step picture. Text version here: https://joecarlsmith.com/2025/08/18/giving-ais-safe-motivations

The stakes of AI moral status

On seeing and not seeing souls. Text version here: https://joecarlsmith.com/2025/05/21/the-stakes-of-ai-moral-status/

Can we safely automate alignment research?

It's really important; we've got a real shot; there are a ton of ways to fail.  Text version here: https://joecarlsmith.com/2025/04/30/can-we-safely-automate-a

AI for AI safety

We should try extremely hard to use AI labor to help address the alignment problem. Text version here: https://joecarlsmith.com/2025/03/14/ai-for-ai-safety

Paths and waystations in AI safety

On the structure of the path to safe superintelligence, and some possible milestones along the way. Text version here: https://joecarlsmith.substack.com/p/paths-and-wayst

When should we worry about AI power-seeking?

Examining the conditions required for rogue AI behavior. Text version here: https://joecarlsmith.substack.com/p/when-should-we-worry-about-ai-power

What is it to solve the alignment problem?

Also: to avoid it? Handle it? Solve it forever? Solve it completely? Text version here: https://joecarlsmith.substack.com/p/what-is-it-to-solve-the-alignment

How do we solve the alignment problem?

Introduction to a series of essays about paths to safe and useful superintelligence.  Text version here: https://joecarlsmith.substack.com/p/how-do-we-solve-the-alignmen

Fake thinking and real thinking

When the line pulls at your hand.  Text version here: https://joecarlsmith.com/2025/01/28/fake-thinking-and-real-thinking/. 

Takes on "Alignment Faking in Large Language Models"

What can we learn from recent empirical demonstrations of scheming in frontier models? Text version here: https://joecarlsmith.com/2024/12/18/takes-on-alignment-faking-in

(Part 2, AI takeover) Extended audio from my conversation with Dwarkesh Patel

Extended audio from my conversation with Dwarkesh Patel. This part focuses on the basic story about AI takeover. Transcript available on my website here: https://joecarls

(Part 1, Otherness) Extended audio from my conversation with Dwarkesh Patel

Extended audio from my conversation with Dwarkesh Patel. This part focuses on my series "Otherness and control in the age of AGI." Transcript available on my website here

Introduction and summary for "Otherness and control in the age of AGI"

This is the introduction and summary for my series "Otherness and control in the age of AGI."  Text version here: https://joecarlsmith.com/2024/01/02/otherness-and-contr

Second half of full audio for "Otherness and control in the age of AGI"

Second half of the full audio for my series on how agents with different values should relate to one another, and on the ethics of seeking and sharing power.  First half

First half of full audio for "Otherness and control in the age of AGI"

First half of the full audio for my series on how agents with different values should relate to one another, and on the ethics of seeking and sharing power.  Second half