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Week 36

Mon 1st Sep - Sun 7th Sep 2025

Monday 1st September 2025

AI Ethics WG

Narrative:

Discussion Points: This is our last meeting of the quarter(Q3)! The call opened with updates on payments, noting that several completed tasks are still waiting because of the low AGIX token price. Everyone was reminded that contributors will be paid by the end of the quarter regardless, with the admin team covering the shortfall if needed. Documentation for this meeting was assigned to Zork, with the reminder that it should be completed and submitted by September 7. When we reviewed the Github board, a question came up about whether anything should be raised in the upcoming workgroup sync call. Nobody had urgent items, but it was agreed that the BGI Nexus survey should continue to be highlighted. A discussion followed on possible involvement at BGI25 in Istanbul. Ideas included hosting a virtual event beforehand to showcase the research interviews, transcriptions, and survey data. Vani mentioned that more clarity would come after a check-in with Esther and Hayley later in the week. On the community engagement side, Vani mentioned that Colleen’s “Redefining Intelligence” session had technical glitches but was successfully repeated in the AI Sandbox. A recording and slides will be shared and a new participant, Julian, has also suggested topics and may become involved in the future. Sucre gave an update on internal management: the project board is organized, the Q4 budget draft has been prepared, and the quarterly report is underway. Payments are still delayed by token price, but there’s hope that some will be processed by Thursday. The MOOC study group on AI ethics was briefly revisited, but the feeling was that workloads are too heavy now. The idea will be reassessed in the October meeting. We checked the progress on transcripts. Vani noted that Q2 transcript checking is still ongoing but close to completion, while Q3 transcripts are partially done. The backlog remains a priority. In connection with BGI25, we talked about how the workgroup might contribute, perhaps through a roundtable or presentation tied to ongoing research. Everyone was invited to suggest subtopics or relevant topics before the Thursday meeting with Esther and Hayley. The budget review prompted discussion on necessary cuts. Documentation payments were reduced to $20, co-chair to $250, and management roles to $150. Only three new interviews are planned for Q4 (alongside Jeffrey’s completed one), with most of the budget going toward 14 transcriptions. Other allocations included transcript checking, two trial research write-ups, possible grounded theory coding, Colleen’s monthly events, and a contingency fund. AI Ethics WG budget: Quarter 4 2025 Members then exchanged views on who wanted to take on tasks. Zork, Clement, Grandi, and Advance confirmed willingness to do transcriptions. Alfred, MaxMilez, Zork, and Rems offered to handle interviews. We agreed to finalize preferences by commenting directly on the draft budget sheet. There was clarification around grounded theory coding that was stated in the Q4 budget analysis: it refers to qualitative data analysis, not programming. The idea is to treat it as a learning opportunity, possibly unpaid unless strong interest develops.

Decision Items:

  • Q4 Budget Focus: We agreed to cut costs across most roles and make transcription the main priority, budgeting for 14 transcriptions (new and backlog) while limiting new interviews to three (plus Jeffrey’s completed one).

    • [rationale] We felt it made more sense to slow down on new interviews and put our energy into finishing the backlog transcriptions giving lasting value and make sure the work we’ve already done doesn’t just sit unused. By capping new interviews to just three, plus Jeffrey’s completed one, we can still bring in some fresh perspectives without stretching the budget or creating another pile of unfinished work.

  • Completed tasks will be paid by the end of Q3 even if token price remains below target, with the admin team covering any shortfall.

    • [rationale] We agreed it wouldn’t be fair to leave people waiting on payments just because the token price is down. Since the work is already done, it should be honored. That’s why the admin team will cover any shortfall — it keeps things fair, shows people their effort is valued, and helps keep motivation strong for future tasks.

Action Items:

  • [action] Vani to meet with Esther & Hayley on Sept 4 to clarify BGI25 Istanbul involvement (virtual event, roundtable, research showcase). [assignee] CallyFromAuron [due] 4 September 2025 [status] todo

  • [action] Sucre to Finalize and submit Q4 budget by Sept 15; continue preparing quarterly report. [assignee] Sucre n Spice [due] 15 September 2025 [status] in progress

  • [action] All members are to comment in the draft budget sheet indicating willingness to take on transcriptions or interviews. [status] in progress

  • [action] Vani to complete Q2 transcript checking and progress Q3 transcripts by end of quarter. [assignee] CallyFromAuron [status] in progress

  • [action] All members are to revisit interest in the MOOC study group and to consider alternative formats. [status] todo

  • [action] Vani to post more info on grounded theory coding in Discord to gauge member interest. [assignee] CallyFromAuron [due] 15 September 2025 [status] in progress

Keywords/tags:

  • topics covered: AI Ethics MOOC Study group, Interview Transcription, Interviews, budget management, deadlines, grounded theory coding, BGI25 Istanbul, Q4 budget, AGIX rate, Q3 quarterly report, transcript checking.

  • emotions: collaborative, deliberative, forward-looking

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