Alec Stapp - Rethinking the Think Tank for Better Governance

<p>On this episode of The Hope Axis, Anna Gát is joined by Alec Stapp, CEO and co-founder of the Institute for Progress, to talk about what gives him hope, and much more.</p><p><br></p><p>Alec shares the story behind his five-year transition to sole leadership at IFP, and they discuss progress studies, policy innovation, science funding, technology, and more. Hope you enjoy!</p><p><br></p><p><strong>For the full transcript of our conversation, click here:</strong></p><p>https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zC8Rywf4pO8RVvgiLQM3Vz7lgi87oofG/view?usp=sharing</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Important Links:</strong></p><p>X (Twitter) – https://x.com/AlecStapp </p><p>IFP–https://ifp.org/author/alec-stapp/ </p><p>Website– https://alecstapp.com/ </p><p>Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/in/alec-stapp-20804b45/ </p><p><br></p><p><strong>Show Notes:</strong></p><p>(0:00:00) The Introduction<br>(0:05:02) Starting The Institute for Progress<br>(0:11:58) Changes Since 2021<br>(0:15:48) Abundance<br>(0:22:45) Institutional Problems in the US<br>(0:28:50) Working with the Ever-Changing Overton Window<br>(0:32:26) Aschenbrenner, AI Security Risks, &amp; the Inertia in DC<br>(0:37:11) AI Safety: Self-Corrections, the Impact of the AI Researchers<br>(0:46:59) Data Centers<br>(0:55:17) Flock Cameras<br>(0:56:25) Staying Agile<br>(0:58:11) IFP - Building an Institution<br>(1:02:51) The Wrong Electoral Incentives<br>(1:04:03) Closing Remarks</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Books, Essays &amp; References Mentioned:</strong></p><p>Derek Thompson — The Abundance Agenda</p><p>Derek Thompson &amp; Ezra Klein — Abundance</p><p>Alex Karp — The Technological Republic</p><p>Leopold Aschenbrenner — Situational Awareness</p><p>Nan Ransohoff — Third Wave of American Philanthropy</p><p>The Federalist Papers — Hamilton’s paper on judicial review</p><p>René Girard — Girardian theory</p><p>Boston Tea Party</p><p>Pace in the Frontier — Letter on the pace of frontier AI development.</p>