The Simple Heart

1 week ago | blog.simpleheart.org | Wayne Hsiung

There is a common challenge in human sociality that leaders, but few others, must deal with. I call it Stopping the Wave. There are times when the group you are leading experiences a sudden shift in thinking or behavior. It’s often extremely unclear, perhaps impossible, to understand how it started. But when you are inside of this shift, it can feel as unstoppable as a tsunami. Every individual—even supposed leaders—feels powerless to stop it.

2 weeks ago | blog.simpleheart.org | Wayne Hsiung

The predictions for super-intelligent AI are starting to scare the world — even former President Obama. But there are important reasons, grounded in the biology of the brain, that AI progress might not be as fast or scary as many think. Regarding the predictions: a former OpenAI researcher, Daniel Kokotajlo, has been getting lots of attention for his prediction (featured in the New York Times) that top AI labs may trigger an unstoppable and dangerous cascade by 2027.

2 weeks ago | blog.simpleheart.org | Wayne Hsiung

I’ve spent the last few days at the Animal Law Conference in the UK. And my main conclusion is that the animal law community in the UK is much more ambitious than in the United States. US animal law is tactical and incremental. “This is how to sue a road-side zero.” “Here’s how we can pass an animal welfare law.” “That’s an example of effective regulatory enforcement.”In contrast, UK Animal Law is visionary and long-term.

4 weeks ago | blog.simpleheart.org | Wayne Hsiung

What if our efforts to improve animal welfare have backfired? That is the question posed by the latest open rescue by Direct Action Everywhere (DxE) at a Certified Humane supplier of goat milk to Whole Foods, Vera Dairy in Stratford, California. The rescue, which found dead baby goats illegally piled up by the dozens at the farm, revealed disturbing gaps in accountability to the industry’s own welfare standards.

1 month ago | blog.simpleheart.org | Wayne Hsiung

I spoke to Kirsty Henderson today, the President of Anima International in Europe. And I was struck by the general nature of her organization’s mission. They do not have any particular campaign or strategy. Rather, they focus on building a strong culture, grounded in radical candor, and a general organizational infrastructure that allows talent and intelligence to adapt to new circumstances. This reminded me of something called The Bitter Lesson.