Trump's new AI concern: the rise of effective altruism

The Trump administration has identified effective altruism (EA) as a new adversary in the debate over the pace of AI development. EA, a philosophy that emphasizes using evidence and reason to maximize good for humanity, has influenced and funded parts of the AI safety movement. The Defense Department recently criticized the EA movement, posting 'Americanism, not effective altruism' on X. EA advocates, particularly 'longtermists,' prioritize protecting future generations from catastrophic risks. Open Philanthropy, now known as Coefficient Giving, donated $30 million to OpenAI in 2017. The administration argues that the EA-driven AI safety worldview could put the U.S. at a disadvantage in the global AI race against China. The movement gained prominence after Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of FTX, became its public face before his fraud conviction tarnished its reputation. EA-linked groups have invested in AI alignment and safety for years, aiming to prevent human control loss and catastrophic outcomes. Recent calls for slowing AI development have drawn criticism from the Trump administration, which views EA's focus on long-term risks as a threat to American competitiveness.