“From feelings to action: spreadsheets as an act of compassion” by Zachary Robinson🔸

<p> This is a transcript of my opening talk at EA Global: London 2025. In my talk, I challenge the misconception that EA is populated by “cold, uncaring, spreadsheet-obsessed robots” and explain how EA principles serve as tools for putting compassion into practice, translating our feelings about the world's problems into effective action.</p><p> Key points: </p><ul> <li> Most people involved in EA are here&nbsp;because&nbsp;of their feelings, not&nbsp;despite&nbsp;them. Many of us are driven by emotions like anger about neglected global health needs, sadness about animal suffering, or fear about AI risks. What distinguishes us as a community isn't that we don't feel; it's that we don't stop at feeling — we act. Two examples:<ul> <li> When USAID cuts threatened critical health programs, GiveWell mobilized $24 million in emergency funding within weeks. </li><li> People from the EA ecosystem spotted AI risks years ahead of the mainstream and pioneered funding for the field [...]</li></ul></li></ul> <p>---</p> <p><b>First published:</b><br/> June 13th, 2025 </p> <p><b>Source:</b><br/> <a href="https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/eT823dqNAhdRXBYvb/from-feelings-to-action-spreadsheets-as-an-act-of-compassion?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Source+URL+in+episode+description&utm_campaign=ai_narration" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/eT823dqNAhdRXBYvb/from-feelings-to-action-spreadsheets-as-an-act-of-compassion</a> </p> <p>---</p> <p>Narrated by <a href="https://type3.audio/?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Narrated+by+TYPE+III+AUDIO&utm_term=ea_forum&utm_campaign=ai_narration" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TYPE III AUDIO</a>.</p> <p>---</p><div style="max-width: 100%";><p><strong>Images from the article:</strong></p><a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/eT823dqNAhdRXBYvb/cpyrefyjxtf3zginkfuz" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/eT823dqNAhdRXBYvb/cpyrefyjxtf3zginkfuz" alt="A person with white hair wearing turquoise polo and dark jacket outside." style="max-width: 100%;" /></a><hr style="margin-top: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;" /><a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/eT823dqNAhdRXBYvb/bha49neqjz2wpilyv4n1" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/eT823dqNAhdRXBYvb/bha49neqjz2wpilyv4n1" alt="Bar graph showing AI extinction risk predictions, with percentages ranging from 0.01% to over 50%." style="max-width: 100%;" /></a><hr style="margin-top: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;" /><a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/eT823dqNAhdRXBYvb/wwhiyqyyqmydlb9itc2e" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/eT823dqNAhdRXBYvb/wwhiyqyyqmydlb9itc2e" alt="Bar graph showing partisan views on U.S. global health spending (KFF poll)." style="max-width: 100%;" /></a><hr style="margin-top: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;" /><a href="https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/eT823dqNAhdRXBYvb/jddytwfttqyrxbefvduz" target="_blank"><img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/cea/image/upload/f_auto,q_auto/v1/mirroredImages/eT823dqNAhdRXBYvb/jddytwfttqyrxbefvduz" alt="A medieval-themed meme showing various philosophical positions about longtermism and extinction." style="max-width: 100%;" /></a><p><em>Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not show images in the episode description. Try <a href="https://pocketcasts.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Pocket Casts</a>, or another podcast app.</em></p></div>