Damon Binder

Damon Binder

I'm a researcher at Coefficient Giving, working on risks from AI and biology, with a background in theoretical physics.

Latest posts

The AI Industrial Explosion — Part 5: Given AGI, automating physical production is probably not that hard

Once we have the minds, building bodies capable enough to automate physical labor is not that hard.

Freeing Thucydides

Wars happen because states cannot credibly commit to the agreements they would both prefer. AIs could supply the missing enforcer, ending competition for control of the future.

The easiest pathway to control is through executive power

Power is already centralised in the US President and Chinese General Secretary. Whoever seeks control during an AI transition, the easiest route runs through the executive.

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Projects

The Indo-European Family Tree

An interactive, time-calibrated tree of the Indo-European languages.

Harmonics Lab

Build a sound from its harmonics and play it across a keyboard.

Random Lives

Biographical stories of randomly sampled people from across all of human history.

Other stuff

Historical recipes

Reconstructing dishes from the ancient and medieval world.

Book recommendations

Non-fiction books that I like, organized by topic.

Physics research

My PhD dissertation and earlier physics work.