Update:
I attended the Tokyo AI Safety Conference. I made ~5 new connections that I have communicated with at least once after the conference, and I strengthened ~ 3 connections with people that I already know, to the extent that I feel comfortable asking them for help. I didn't make as much of a connection to the AI safety scene in Tokyo as I would've liked. Overall this wasn't extremely productive in terms of sharing my research to a wider audience, but I did have 4 conversations about it that I would describe as valuable or important, and I view the connections I made as worthwhile for the future.
Deeply thankful to everyone who helped me attend.
2
[Urgent] Top-up funding to present poster at the Tokyo AI Safety Conference
ActiveGrant
$700raised
$700funding goal
Project summary
My paper (current draft; arXiv submission pending) has been accepted for a poster presentation at the Tokyo AI Safety Conference (happening April 12th). I have been offered funding support up to $1500. However, the funding was approved only recently, and is now less than all realistic (i.e., < 24 hours) flight options. This means I have no funding to cover my costs in Tokyo. I am prepared to cover some of them myself, though I cannot spare more than ~$250 at the moment.
I am seeking some top-up funding to cover the remainder of my flights, accommodation, Tokyo travel expenses, food/drink, insurance, and other related costs I may incur.
What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?
Be available to explain my work to interested individuals at the conference
Network with members of the Japanese AI safety community
Meet with several researchers in Tokyo
My poster will be on display regardless. However, I feel it's chances of success will be improved by my presence on-hand to explain it. I would ideally arrive in Tokyo 2 days before the conference, to adjust to the time zone and recover from travel. I would also ideally stay 2-3 days afterwards, to allow time to meet for 1-1s and informal workshops if requested, so that I make proper use of the developing Japanese AI safety field and the global network of researchers in attendance.
How will this funding be used?
[all upper estimates for a 5-day stay]
$200 (extra required to cover flights) (variable, estimated)
$250 accommodation
$100 food/drink
$50 travel
$40 travel insurance
$60 contingency
Happy to donate any leftover funds back to Manifund, and/or to provide receipts/proof of attendance.
Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?
I am travelling alone, though the paper was co-authored by Chris Pang and developed under the supervision of Sahil K and Sophie Libkind.
I attended a research retreat organized by PIBBSS in January 2024. I also attended MATS 6.0, a portion of the Iliad 2024 conference, and the Live Machinery Workshop in November 2024. I have made lasting connections at all and benefitted massively from the exposure to other researchers. I doubt I would be where I am today were it not for these connections.
What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?
There may be very little uptake or interest in my work. I find this unlikely, and I have already reached out to people in Tokyo who I know from previous events, and who's interests overlap with my own.
How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?
$1500, through a grant found by Sahil
Matthew Farr
about 1 month ago
Austin Chen
11 months ago
Approving this grant as a low-budget way to enable Matthew to attend this Tokyo conference and share his work.