So far we've supported OpenAI and we will soon start the basic income project. We have a few ideas about what to do next, but we'd love to hear from the community about what we should be considering. Thanks!
Ask HN: What should we fund at YC Research?
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Re: Ask HN: What should we fund at YC Research?
#2The projects being funded by YC (esp basic income) are substantially different and difficult to scale than those of traditional startups, YC or otherwise.
In the interest of reducing noise, are moonshots what you are looking for, or is it anything-goes?
Re: Ask HN: What should we fund at YC Research?
#3How about carbon sequestration tech? Seems like the world is starting to move towards renewable energy generation, but that alone won't prevent the adverse effects of CO2 levels rising.
A rigorous survey of what the current possible carbon sequestration tech and methods would be really helpful. Another organization might already have this survey done, but I haven't seen anything online (in my admittedly trivial search efforts).
Re: Ask HN: What should we fund at YC Research?
#4The projects being funded by YC (esp basic income) are substantially different and difficult to scale than those of traditional startups, YC or otherwise. In the interest of reducing noise, are moonshots what you are looking for, or is it anything-goes?
Anything goes.
Re: Ask HN: What should we fund at YC Research?
#5Gun control. I'm actually largely against gun control, but the issue is we have almost no good research on what factors we can implement to curb violence in our country. What causes people to want to say, do a mass shooting? How do people acquire the guns they use in crimes? (Are new background check laws actually solving a problem, or should we be focused on preventing people from stealing others' guns?) Rather than scattershot regulations to impede gun owners, how can we scientifically target laws to reduce crime?
The CDC is forbidden from conducting research on this, allegedly, so it seems like a ripe opportunity for a private option.
Re: Ask HN: What should we fund at YC Research?
#6[deleted]
Re: Ask HN: What should we fund at YC Research?
#7Related to the basic income project -- questions about the societal impact of technology that the technology or business sector might be hesitant to investigate themselves.
For example, how do social networks, targeted advertising, etc. impact social dynamics and sense of self? Are these impacts positive or negative, and could technology improve them?
Re: Ask HN: What should we fund at YC Research?
#8If everything goes, please research a viable way to open borders globally. Not only is there tremendous economic potential energy there, but national borders are sadly one of the few openly discriminating policies out there, a major source of inequality and injustice. I would love to see progress towards that end.
Re: Ask HN: What should we fund at YC Research?
#9Related to the basic income project -- questions about the societal impact of technology that the technology or business sector might be hesitant to investigate themselves. For example, how do social networks, targeted advertising, etc. impact social dynamics and sense of self? Are these impacts positive or negative, and could technology improve them?
On a broader scale, how can we measure and understand happiness/quality of life? It is difficult to improve on factors that cannot be measured -- if the goal of technology is to improve quality of life (which I believe it is), then we need a way of measuring that holistically.
Re: Ask HN: What should we fund at YC Research?
#10aging