Scott Alexander summarizes the AI-focused issue of Asterisk Magazine, highlighting key articles on AI forecasting, testing, and impacts. Longer summary

Scott Alexander presents an overview of the latest issue of Asterisk Magazine, which focuses on AI. He highlights several articles, including his own piece on forecasting AI progress, interviews with experts on AI testing and China's AI situation, discussions on the future of microchips and AI's impact on economic growth, and various other pieces on AI safety, regulation, and related topics. The post also mentions non-AI articles and congratulates the Asterisk team on their work. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander distinguishes between moderation and censorship in social media, proposing opt-in settings for banned content as a solution to balance user preferences and free speech. Longer summary

Scott Alexander argues that moderation and censorship are distinct concepts often conflated in debates about social media content. He defines moderation as a business practice to improve user experience, while censorship involves third-party intervention against users' wishes. The post proposes a solution where platforms could implement opt-in settings for banned content, allowing users to choose their level of exposure. This approach would maintain the benefits of moderation while avoiding the pitfalls of censorship. Scott acknowledges some arguments for true censorship but emphasizes the importance of separating these concepts to foster more productive debates on the topic. Shorter summary

The review examines 'How Asia Works' by Joe Studwell, which proposes a three-part model for economic development based on the success of East Asian countries. Longer summary

This book review explores Joe Studwell's 'How Asia Works', which argues that successful Asian economies followed a three-part development model: land reform, state-guided industrialization with export discipline, and financial policies supporting the first two goals. The review compares successful countries like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China with less successful ones like Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. It discusses the importance of land reform, industrial policy, and financial controls in early development stages, and how these policies differ from standard free-market advice. The review also considers potential counterarguments and the book's implications for current development economics. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander examines the relationship between economic development, social changes, and happiness, concluding that happiness levels can change over time but are more influenced by intangible factors than by economic growth. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the relationship between economic development, social changes, and happiness levels across different countries and groups. He explores Scott Sumner's question of whether anything matters for happiness, given that many countries show no increase in happiness despite significant improvements. Alexander examines data on African-Americans, women, and various countries, finding that happiness levels do change in response to social trends, even over decades. He notes that economic growth may increase happiness, but other factors like freedom and democracy seem more influential. The post concludes that happiness can change, but intangible factors are likely more important than money, even when lifting countries out of poverty. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander examines the paradox of economic growth not increasing happiness in developing countries, questioning the moral implications for global development efforts. Longer summary

Scott Alexander discusses the paradox that economic growth in developing countries like China doesn't seem to increase happiness, despite lifting millions out of poverty. He explores the implications of this for utilitarianism and effective altruism, questioning whether efforts to boost national development are truly beneficial if they don't increase happiness. The post examines various explanations and potential responses to this dilemma, including abandoning consequentialism, redefining happiness, or focusing on preference utilitarianism. Ultimately, Scott expresses discomfort with all these options and acknowledges the perplexing nature of happiness research. Shorter summary

Scott Alexander shares a diverse collection of interesting links and brief commentaries on topics ranging from pollution solutions to genetic discoveries and cultural differences. Longer summary

Scott Alexander shares various interesting links and brief commentaries on diverse topics. These include an Effective Altruism survey, innovative solutions to pollution, a unique thundercloud, eating habits of liberals and conservatives, a critique of cyberbullying, police body cameras, genetic discoveries related to intelligence, polio outbreaks, race and drug testing in hiring, cultural differences based on agriculture, China's economic future, and circular farms seen from airplanes. The post is a collection of brief, often unrelated observations and references to articles Scott found intriguing. Shorter summary