In an increasingly unstable, uncertain world, beset by economic, diplomatic, ecological and sociological tensions, states and organizations, both public and private, might be expected to cut back substantially on their philanthropic activity. And there is a danger that the real utility of—and justification for—investment in philanthropic initiatives will increasingly be questioned. In this context, the so-called effective altruism movement, which emerged some 15 years ago and whose philosophy is to maximize the positive impact of altruistic acts with the resources available, could well make headway within decision-making circles.
Still little-known but finding a growing audience in some milieus (particularly the tech world), effective altruism, writes Antonin Broi, “has acquired a real capacity in some areas to direct financial flows, structure priorities and influence research agendas.” Moreover, it is coming to engage increasingly with issues of technological governance, setting its sights particularly on averting the risks of planetary catastrophe that might ensue from an insufficiently regulated use of artificial intelligence (AI).
To understand the movement properly and the controversies it engenders, particularly in the USA, this article examines when and how it emerged and how it prioritizes the fields of action that are likely to have the most positive impact for humanity. Lastly, it shines a light on the questions of technological governance (including the call for a pause in the advancement of AI) that are fuelling the polemic around this extremely heterogeneous ecosystem.
The article is downloadable only in French. It is not available in English.
