LessWrong is a rationality-focused community blog founded in 2009 that has influenced AI safety discourse, receiving $5M+ in funding and serving as the origin point for ~31% of EA survey respondents in 2014. Survey participation peaked at 3,000+ in 2016, declining to 558 by 2023, with the community increasingly focused on AI alignment discussions.
Facts
4Other Data
| Dimension | Rating | Evidence | Assessor | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| community-scale | Medium | 2016 survey had ~3,000 respondents; 2023 survey had 558 respondents; peak 15,000 daily pageviews [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LessWrong), [2023 Survey](https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/WRaq4SzxhunLoFKCs/2023-survey-results) | editorial | |
| funding-base | Substantial | Over $5 million from Survival and Flourishing Fund, Future Fund, and Coefficient Giving combined [EA Forum](https://forum-bots.effectivealtruism.org/topics/lesswrong) | editorial | |
| influence-on-ai-safety | High | Material influenced formation of MIRI and CFAR; attracted major tech donors; 31% of EA survey respondents in 2014 first heard of EA through LessWrong [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LessWrong), [Rationality - LessWrong](https://www.lesswrong.com/rationality) | editorial |
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