Table of Contents
In the previous part, we went through a framework for analyzing the problems within which you have the opportunity to make the biggest difference – problems that are big, overlooked and solvable. Now we will move from theory to practice and apply the framework to reality to see which problems seem promising to focus on. In a perfect world, more people would work in all important fields. But as individuals we only have one career and need to decide where it can do the most good. Thus, this section should not be read as saying that all the world’s resources should be allocated to the listed problems. The question is where you as an individual, given how resources are distributed today, can make the biggest difference on the margin .
Prioritizing between global problems is associated with great complexity and research is limited. The estimates therefore come with a high degree of uncertainty and we expect that our opinion will change as we receive new information. However, based on years of work by organizations such as 80,000 Hours , the Global Priorities Institute at the University of Oxford , the Future of Humanity Institute and the Open Philanthropy Project, two broad categories, and seven specific problem areas within these, seem particularly urgent to work on:
1. Manage risks of existential catastrophes, especially from new technologies
Highest priority
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- Safe development of artificial intelligence (AI)
- Prevent biohazards
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Second highest priority
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- Extreme climate change
- Nuclear Security
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2. Research and capacity building to tackle future challenges
Highest priority
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- Research on global priorities
- Building movements that can create effective change
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Second highest priority
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- Improve institutional decision-making
For many, these problems can feel big, new, abstract and difficult to do anything about. It can be easy to conclude that they do not suit one’s self. But we’d like to challenge you not to dismiss them just yet. In the next chapter, we’ll go over the types of professions that can help tackle these problems, and many find that there are more options available to them than they first thought. Of course, we also don’t think that these are the only problem areas in which you can do a lot of good. But given the knowledge we have today, we believe that this is where you can generally make the biggest difference, and therefore we focus on them. At the end of the chapter, two promising alternatives are presented for those who want to focus on more concrete, and in the short term more measurable, problems – improving human health in low-income countries and reducing animal suffering in industrial food production. We also recommend material for those who want to read about additional issues that seem important to work on.