RE: https://tldr.nettime.org/@tante/117406795857681781
Those people, often students, approach people at parties, events, and start talking about "AI safety". The best defense is letting them know that you are well aware of "effective altruists", and what a cult they are.
Read here what a dangerous cult they are, from a former member: https://www.realtimetechpocalypse.com/p/effective-altruism-is-a-dangerous
Here are the faces and names of "effective altruists" high up the hierarchy in Germany: https://effektiveraltruismus.de/en/team-en/
One of them tried to sell me their story 10 days ago. He is completely fried: https://ea.greaterwrong.com/users/birk-kaellberg?sort=old (this is not SF to them, they truly believe those things)
He organizes "AI safety" talks in his garden in Heidelberg and the listeners get a free dinner. He says their money comes from "philanthropists".
At first I thought he was just someone who bought into the EA talks about "AI safety", so I warned him against EA, even told him "I think your heart is in the right place" but then it turned out he knew full well what cult he was in, so then I was rude and made fun of their prophet Yudkowsky and Sam Bankman Fried, and he ended up giggling nervously and self-soothing by caressing his fingers. Then he switched to chatting up students.
Honestly, I haven't been so creeped out by a cult since Opus Dei! They have money and can pull in uninformed people. Spread the word! Make it embarrassing to engage with EA!
ETA: Of course they are in Heidelberg, they are everywhere: https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/groups