AI Safety Group Pays for Grassroots Anti-AI Campaign

Anti-AI Movement Gains Funding and Structure

An organization linked to the effective altruism movement is funding a campaign to protest artificial intelligence. The group, called Irreplaceable, is paying organizers $2,000 a week to coordinate student walkouts at more than 100 colleges this October. The goal is to demand new regulations on the AI industry.

Irreplaceable describes AI as something that should be paused and placed under public control. This would allow activists to recommend policy changes. The group says its effort is about coordinated action that forces the government to respond.

Key Numbers in the Campaign

• $2,000 weekly pay for paid organizers.
• Over 100 colleges targeted for walkouts in October.
• Each organizer is expected to coordinate about a dozen flagship campuses.
• August 28 launch date for the Irreplaceable group.

Links to AI Safety and Climate Groups

Jeremy Ornstein, a strategist for Irreplaceable, also works for the Center for AI Safety. The Center for AI Safety receives funding from the effective altruism community. Effective altruism is a philosophy that encourages people to use evidence and reason to do the most good possible. Some critics have called the campaign "astroturfing," which means a fake grassroots movement backed by a wealthy organization.

Irreplaceable was founded by veterans from climate change groups, including Sunrise Movement and 350.org. These groups have experience organizing large-scale protests.

Who Is Funding the Movement

The group does not publicly list its donors. Its privacy page mentions an Education Fund and an Action Fund, but it does not disclose where the money comes from. This has led to speculation about the source of the funding. A forum post by the founder of an AI Safety fellowship identified Irreplaceable as originating from the Center for AI Safety.

Effective altruism has a well-known history in the cryptocurrency world, particularly through its ties to Sam Bankman-Fried and FTX. Bankman-Fried was a former effective altruist who was convicted of fraud. The movement is now expanding its influence into AI policy.

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