Progress and Cons

Epistemic status: Reflections on ProgressCon 2026, written up over the following weeks. Quotes are reconstructed from memory. Artistic license taken. For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow . – Ecclesiastes 1:18 “I’m sure you’ve all heard about the math stuff that OpenAI released earlier this week.” It is Thursday, October 8, 2026, and the CEO of a bio lab automation startup is giving us a tour of their San Francisco office. “Raise your hand if you think that’s a good thing.” A dozen hands shoot up out of thirty visitors. Along with ten more, my arm

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