The weekly open thread of the ACX community allows users to post about various topics, ask questions, or discuss unrelated matters. The thread also mentions several job opportunities and research fellowships in AI-related fields, including a head of economics lab position at the OpenAI Foundation with salary ranges posted on the job descriptions. MATS, a 12-week research fellowship program, offers a $6,400/month stipend and is fully funded, while Inkhaven's learn-to-blog bootcamp costs $3,500.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-24,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Scott Alexander mentions that ACX (Astral Codex Ten) is still looking for organizers for its college meetups at various universities, including MIT, Claremont, Northwestern**, and others. Those interested in organizing the meetups can read more about the opportunity. Additionally, a separate group affiliated with OpenAI Foundation's Jacob Trefethen is hiring grantmakers, including roles such as Head of Econ Lab, where the candidate will lead a team figuring out the economics of transformative AI.
Written for “Open Thread 448” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Post about anything you want, ask random questions, whatever.
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you → post → questions
ACX has an unofficial subreddit, Discord, and bulletin board, and in-person meetups around the world.
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ACX → have → world
Most content is free, some is subscriber only; you can subscribe here.
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you → subscribe → ?
Also:
1: We’re still looking for EA college meetup organizers.
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We → look → organizers
Matt says his highest priority colleges that don’t have an organizer yet are MIT, Claremont, Northwestern, Carnegie Mellon, Amherst, Notre Dame, Duke, CalTech, Georgetown, UCLA, Dartmouth, Vanderbilt, Harvard, NYU, Williams, GWU, American University, Rutgers, and UNC Chapel Hill.
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that → say → organizer
If you’re at one of these schools, read the post and decide whether you’re up for organizing.
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you → ’re → organizing
ACX’s Boston meetup group has finished their voting guide for the Greater Boston primary election (early voting in August, election day on September 1).
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group → finish → September
I’m still excited about signal-boosting voting guides from meetup groups in big cities.
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I → ’m → cities
Jacob Trefethen is looking to hire grantmakers for the OpenAI Foundation, and says the roles “may be a good fit for Substackers or Substack lurkers”.
uncertain
roles → look → Substackers
He writes:
Here are a few of the program roles:
Head of Econ Lab, to lead a team figuring out the economics of transformative AI
Program Director, Formal Methods, to support verifiable defense systems as cybersecurity dynamics change
Program Officer/Director on High-Burden Diseases, helping channel R&D to fight the diseases most plaguing humanity
Program Officer/Director on Catalytic Deployment, figuring out how best to apply AI in the social sector
…and more than a dozen others.
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dynamics → write → sector
Please share with friends who you think may be interested!
uncertain
you → share → friends
[…] Salary ranges are posted on the job descriptions.
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ranges → post → descriptions
I think these getting the best people in these positions would be good even if you otherwise oppose OpenAI or AI in general; if you disagree with me about this, send me an email arguing why and maybe I’ll avoid boosting the next one.
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I → think → one
4: Guess I’m advertising MATS again!
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I → guess → MATS
They say:
MATS is a research fellowship for people who want to get into AI alignment, interpretability, security, and governance.
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who → say → alignment
Fully funded: $6,400/month stipend, $8,000/month compute budget, housing, meals, and travel covered.
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stipend → fund → ?
Fellows work with mentors from Anthropic, Google DeepMind, OpenAI, Redwood Research, AI Futures Project, and more.
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Fellows → work → Anthropic
Tracks include Empirical, Theory, Strategy & Forecasting, Systems Security, Policy & Governance, Biosecurity, and Founding & Field-Building.
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Tracks → include → Empirical
Applications close September 6, apply here.
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Applications → close → ?
5: Guess I’m advertising Inkhaven again!
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I → guess → Inkhaven
This is a learn-to-blog bootcamp at rationalist conference venue Lighthaven.
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This → learn → Lighthaven
Nov 10 → Dec 11, $3500, I’ll be teaching a short session and occasionally giving people advice on drafts.
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I → teach → drafts
