Ben Stewart 🔸
@benstew.bsky.social
AI Program Officer at Longview Philanthropy. Own views.
🔸 giving 10% of my lifetime income to effective charities via Giving What We Can
🔸 giving 10% of my lifetime income to effective charities via Giving What We Can
I wrote this for @transformernews.ai, a publication I admire a lot! Separately, I started a new role at Longview Philanthropy, as an AI Program Officer. I'm excited to move into active grant-making, and focus on the issue of our times
www.transformernews.ai/p/ai-and-syn...
www.transformernews.ai/p/ai-and-syn...
AI and synthetic DNA could be a lethal combination
Stronger gene-synthesis screening is vital to closing off AI’s ability to enable man-made pandemics
www.transformernews.ai
October 13, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I wrote this for @transformernews.ai, a publication I admire a lot! Separately, I started a new role at Longview Philanthropy, as an AI Program Officer. I'm excited to move into active grant-making, and focus on the issue of our times
www.transformernews.ai/p/ai-and-syn...
www.transformernews.ai/p/ai-and-syn...
Australia can lead progress, if we choose to
Breaking News: Britain, Canada and Australia formally recognized Palestinian statehood.
Britain, Australia and Canada Recognize a Palestinian State
The announcements came on the eve of the annual gathering of the U.N. General Assembly.
nyti.ms
September 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Australia can lead progress, if we choose to
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
Recently, major AI industry players (incl. a16z, Meta, & OpenAI’s Greg Brockman) announced >$100M in spending on pro-AI super PACs. This is an attempt to copy a wildly successful strategy from the crypto industry, to intimidate politicians away from pursuing AI regulations.🧵
September 16, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Recently, major AI industry players (incl. a16z, Meta, & OpenAI’s Greg Brockman) announced >$100M in spending on pro-AI super PACs. This is an attempt to copy a wildly successful strategy from the crypto industry, to intimidate politicians away from pursuing AI regulations.🧵
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
We need to turn on the lights to stop the greatest moral atrocity of humanity www.ted.com/talks/lewis_...
How to end factory farming
Factory farming is the greatest moral crisis we ignore, says farm animal welfare champion Lewis Bollard. He exposes the truth behind the "all natural" labels on your groceries and shows how technology...
www.ted.com
September 16, 2025 at 4:07 PM
We need to turn on the lights to stop the greatest moral atrocity of humanity www.ted.com/talks/lewis_...
Hard to estimate, but would be cool to see adjustments for counterfactuality. Like which breakthroughs would have been discovered months later by someone else vs. delayed by decades if the discoverer hadn’t succeeded
Counting lives saved is difficult, but it can show us the great difference some people have made—
Scientists can make an enormous difference in the world.
Scientists can make an enormous difference in the world.
August 22, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Hard to estimate, but would be cool to see adjustments for counterfactuality. Like which breakthroughs would have been discovered months later by someone else vs. delayed by decades if the discoverer hadn’t succeeded
How can I repost something as hard as humanly possible
New paper estimates the effects of USAID over the last 20 years:
• ~92m lives saved (that's 12k per day for 20 years), including ~30.4m kids
• 65% mortality reduction for HIV/AIDS, 51% for malaria
Projects 2025 cuts followed by ending USAID would cost 14m+ lives.
www.thelancet.com/action/show...
• ~92m lives saved (that's 12k per day for 20 years), including ~30.4m kids
• 65% mortality reduction for HIV/AIDS, 51% for malaria
Projects 2025 cuts followed by ending USAID would cost 14m+ lives.
www.thelancet.com/action/show...
July 2, 2025 at 12:47 AM
How can I repost something as hard as humanly possible
@happierlives.bsky.social , you might enjoy this finalist in an Australian art competition - it's a rendering of the World Happiness Report 2024, using a blending of each country's flag for the colour, and going left to right in global order of happiness www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/sulma...
July 1, 2025 at 5:35 AM
@happierlives.bsky.social , you might enjoy this finalist in an Australian art competition - it's a rendering of the World Happiness Report 2024, using a blending of each country's flag for the colour, and going left to right in global order of happiness www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au/prizes/sulma...
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
Some very depressing forecasts on the impact of USAID cuts in the recent @asteriskmag.bsky.social special edition: asteriskmag.substack.com/p/forecast-...
May 15, 2025 at 6:27 PM
Some very depressing forecasts on the impact of USAID cuts in the recent @asteriskmag.bsky.social special edition: asteriskmag.substack.com/p/forecast-...
Aus doesn’t have heavyweight influence or resources. ‘Progressive patriotism’ is the right path to global impact. Achieve ambitious policy to show other countries the way forward, away from authoritarianism. We are leaders against tobacco, we can be leaders everywhere www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
www.smh.com.au
May 15, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Aus doesn’t have heavyweight influence or resources. ‘Progressive patriotism’ is the right path to global impact. Achieve ambitious policy to show other countries the way forward, away from authoritarianism. We are leaders against tobacco, we can be leaders everywhere www.smh.com.au/politics/fed...
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
Some highlights from our 2024:
March 6, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Some highlights from our 2024:
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
Our 2024 annual update is live! From launching a $100M pooled fund to tackle global lead poisoning, to expanding partnerships beyond Good Ventures, to watching our grantee David Baker win a Nobel Prize — it's been a milestone year as we enter our second decade.
March 6, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Our 2024 annual update is live! From launching a $100M pooled fund to tackle global lead poisoning, to expanding partnerships beyond Good Ventures, to watching our grantee David Baker win a Nobel Prize — it's been a milestone year as we enter our second decade.
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
Over 650 political scientists who have dedicated our lives to the study of democracy & government, have signed this letter enumerating our deep concerns about this administration’s actions that undermine the Constitution and the rule of law. Please share.
urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=htt...
urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=htt...
Political science statement.pdf
urldefense.proofpoint.com
February 18, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Over 650 political scientists who have dedicated our lives to the study of democracy & government, have signed this letter enumerating our deep concerns about this administration’s actions that undermine the Constitution and the rule of law. Please share.
urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=htt...
urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=htt...
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
Engraving on the exterior of the United States Department of Justice headquarters.
February 15, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Engraving on the exterior of the United States Department of Justice headquarters.
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
Even though Rubio promised life-saving aid wouldn't be interrupted, it has essentially been halted worldwide, interrupting HIV and TB treatment and threatening millions of lives. People are dying today because of these chaotic, inconsistent stop work orders. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/u...
USAID Lifesaving Aid Remains Halted Despite Rubio’s Promise
A new directive puts further exemptions on hold. Aid workers also say the U.S. government has made it impossible to pay partners around the world.
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Even though Rubio promised life-saving aid wouldn't be interrupted, it has essentially been halted worldwide, interrupting HIV and TB treatment and threatening millions of lives. People are dying today because of these chaotic, inconsistent stop work orders. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/u...
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
Roughly 1,500 additional infants contract HIV every day this continues, completely avoidably.
Two weeks into President Trump’s sweeping freeze on foreign aid, HIV groups abroad have not received any funding, jeopardizing the health of more than 20 million people, including 500,000 children.
Trump’s Foreign Aid Freeze Leaves Millions Without HIV Treatment
President Trump’s pause on aid, and the gutting of the primary aid agency, could jeopardize the health of more than 20 million people worldwide, including 500,000 children, experts say.
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Roughly 1,500 additional infants contract HIV every day this continues, completely avoidably.
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
Across reporting and opinion pages, the NYTimes coverage on the impact of the tragic dismantling of USAID has been impressive IMO.
While there's surely room for some productive reform, USAID represents some of the US gov's most effective spending. Thousands will needlessly die.
While there's surely room for some productive reform, USAID represents some of the US gov's most effective spending. Thousands will needlessly die.
February 7, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Across reporting and opinion pages, the NYTimes coverage on the impact of the tragic dismantling of USAID has been impressive IMO.
While there's surely room for some productive reform, USAID represents some of the US gov's most effective spending. Thousands will needlessly die.
While there's surely room for some productive reform, USAID represents some of the US gov's most effective spending. Thousands will needlessly die.
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
Two weeks into President Trump’s sweeping freeze on foreign aid, HIV groups abroad have not received any funding, jeopardizing the health of more than 20 million people, including 500,000 children.
Trump’s Foreign Aid Freeze Leaves Millions Without HIV Treatment
President Trump’s pause on aid, and the gutting of the primary aid agency, could jeopardize the health of more than 20 million people worldwide, including 500,000 children, experts say.
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Two weeks into President Trump’s sweeping freeze on foreign aid, HIV groups abroad have not received any funding, jeopardizing the health of more than 20 million people, including 500,000 children.
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
1/8 Really happy to share Open Phil’s new Request For Proposals to improve AI capability evaluations. It's been a big project for me and my colleague Catherine. Getting evaluations right is crucial — and we're ready to fund serious work to make that happen. 🧵
February 6, 2025 at 7:22 PM
1/8 Really happy to share Open Phil’s new Request For Proposals to improve AI capability evaluations. It's been a big project for me and my colleague Catherine. Getting evaluations right is crucial — and we're ready to fund serious work to make that happen. 🧵
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
Be clear about what Trump and Musk’s aid axe will do: people will face terror and starve, many will die
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Be clear about what Trump and Musk’s aid axe will do: people will face terror and starve, many will die | Gordon Brown
The decimation of USAid is already having a terrible effect in some of the poorest places on the planet. It damages America: it will harm us all, says Gordon Brown, the UN’s special envoy for global e...
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Be clear about what Trump and Musk’s aid axe will do: people will face terror and starve, many will die
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
James Madison wrote of the necessity of the separation of powers:
“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive & judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elected, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”
“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive & judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elected, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”
February 5, 2025 at 4:19 PM
James Madison wrote of the necessity of the separation of powers:
“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive & judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elected, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”
“The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive & judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elected, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.”
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
You may have heard that Secretary Rubio issued a waiver so that life-saving HIV treatment could continue during the break-up of USAID.
It has not.
It has not.
Two weeks into President Trump’s sweeping freeze on foreign aid, HIV groups abroad have not received any funding, jeopardizing the health of more than 20 million people, including 500,000 children.
Trump’s Foreign Aid Freeze Leaves Millions Without HIV Treatment
President Trump’s pause on aid, and the gutting of the primary aid agency, could jeopardize the health of more than 20 million people worldwide, including 500,000 children, experts say.
www.nytimes.com
February 5, 2025 at 10:15 PM
You may have heard that Secretary Rubio issued a waiver so that life-saving HIV treatment could continue during the break-up of USAID.
It has not.
It has not.
Reposted by Ben Stewart 🔸
I'm usually a fan of Zeynep's work, but this piece gets things exactly backwards. Her core argument is that DeepSeek makes "nonsense" of US efforts to contain the spread of AI, which have largely involved restricting the types of AI chips China can access. 🧵
February 5, 2025 at 11:37 PM
I'm usually a fan of Zeynep's work, but this piece gets things exactly backwards. Her core argument is that DeepSeek makes "nonsense" of US efforts to contain the spread of AI, which have largely involved restricting the types of AI chips China can access. 🧵