Sign In

John Wentworth

Independent AI Researcher

John Wentworth is an Independent AI Researcher based in San Francisco, California, with a focus on artificial intelligence alignment and agency. He has been self-employed in this role since November 2018, following a career as a software engineer and data scientist.37 Wentworth's research agenda primarily revolves around two main goals: resolving confusions about agency in AI systems and developing ambitious value learning methods that enable AI to accurately learn and optimize for human values.14

Research Focus

Key Areas of Interest::

  • Agency and Alignment: Wentworth aims to clarify the concept of agency in AI, exploring how different agents are selected in various environments, including biological evolution and economic markets.1
  • Value Learning: He is dedicated to building AI systems that can effectively learn human values, which is critical for ensuring that advanced AI behaves in ways that align with human intentions.1
  • Natural Abstractions: Wentworth investigates how AI can develop abstractions similar to those used by humans, which involves understanding the conditions under which this occurs.6

Professional Background

Before transitioning to independent research, Wentworth worked as a data scientist at LoanSnap. His educational background includes studies at Harvey Mudd College, which has contributed to his expertise in computational methods relevant to AI research.27

Contributions and Community Engagement

Wentworth is active in the AI alignment community, contributing to discussions on platforms like the AI Alignment Forum. His work has sparked both interest and debate among peers regarding the effectiveness and applicability of his theories in real-world AI systems.456

In summary, John Wentworth is a notable figure in the field of AI research, focusing on critical issues related to alignment and agency while advocating for innovative approaches to understanding how artificial intelligence can learn from and interact with human values.

Highlights

Sep 29 · aisafety.info
What is John Wentworth's research agenda? - AISafety.info
May 6 · youtube.com
Ep. 158: abstraction and agency | John Wentworth - YouTube
Ep. 158: abstraction and agency | John Wentworth - YouTube
johnswentworth - AI Alignment Forum
Oct 20 · lesswrong.com
Trying to understand John Wentworth's research agenda - LessWrong
A rough and incomplete review of some of John Wentworth's research

Related Questions

What are John Wentworth's main research interests?
How does John Wentworth define "agency" in his research?
What is the natural abstractions hypothesis that John Wentworth discusses?
How does John Wentworth's approach to AI alignment differ from other researchers?
What are some of the key concepts John Wentworth explores in his research?
John Wentworth
John Wentworth, photo 1
John Wentworth, photo 2
Add to my network

Location

San Francisco, California