Vitalik Buterin Explores Deep Funding Concepts and Value Graphs

Understanding Deep Funding: Insights from Vitalik Buterin

In a recent social media discussion, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin introduced the concept of Deep Funding, which integrates two innovative principles that have the potential to revolutionize how we perceive value and contributions in society.

The Value Graph: A Shift in Perspective

The first principle of Deep Funding, known as the Value Graph, represents a paradigm shift in assessing contributions. Instead of asking, "How much does X contribute to humanity?" the inquiry transforms to, "How much of Y's success can be attributed to X?" This approach emphasizes the relational aspect of value, recognizing that contributions are often interconnected.

This concept has gained traction in recent years as it offers a more practical and applicable method of measuring contributions. Traditional metrics can often be abstract and difficult to quantify. For instance, when posed with the question of how much one might pay to save a certain number of birds, responses can significantly vary; individuals might offer $80 for the chance to save either 2,000 or 200,000 birds, reflecting a challenge in valuing abstract contributions.

In contrast, the Value Graph focuses on more tangible comparisons, such as asking whether A or B is more valuable to C. This localized questioning allows for clearer, more manageable assessments of worth, making it easier to draw conclusions about the impact of various entities or actions.

Refined Human Judgment: Merging AI with Human Insight

The second principle, known as Refined Human Judgment, builds on Buterin's thoughts regarding information finance and the role of artificial intelligence. This approach advocates for an open-market scenario where AI can offer weight distribution suggestions based on various metrics, but these proposals require validation through a random sampling by a human jury.

Refined Human Judgment allows individuals to propose weightings for all connections within the Value Graph. These proposals can originate from AI, offering innovative methods and perspectives. However, the conclusions drawn must be verified by a human jury, which conducts a detailed analysis of the sampled edges within the graph. This process ensures a thorough review, factoring in human insight to establish a connection between the AI-generated data and the jury’s assessments.

The submission that best aligns with the most accurate judgment of the jury ultimately determines the outcome. This method represents a robust approach to enhancing human judgment, refining decision-making through structured validation processes and compatibility with jury conclusions.

Conclusion

Vitalik Buterin's conceptualization of Deep Funding introduces two related yet distinct principles that promote a more refined evaluation of contributions and value in our society. By utilizing tools like the Value Graph and the principles of Refined Human Judgment, society may advance towards a more interconnected understanding of how actions and successes are mutually reliant.

As discussions around these concepts evolve, they may have lasting implications for the fields of technology, finance, and social impact, emphasizing the importance of understanding the synergy between contributions and successes within our increasingly complex ecosystem.