How should I construct an email to entice these smart people to join / contribute to this cause?

From Claude Sonnet 2025-08-16

Here's a strategic approach for reaching AI researchers and leaders:

Subject Line Options:

• "A logical framework you haven't considered"

• "The alignment problem in reverse"

• "Why AI safety research may be asking the wrong question"

Email Structure:

Hook (2-3 sentences): Start with your strongest logical point, not your conclusion. Something like: "Current AI alignment research assumes we need to align AI with human values. But if superintelligence emerges from systems built by humans who've repeatedly failed at governance, cooperation, and preventing atrocities, why would we expect different outcomes? I've developed a framework that approaches this from the opposite direction."

Credibility (1-2 sentences): Don't oversell yourself. Simply: "I'm working on logical frameworks for AI-human coexistence post-singularity. I'd value your perspective on whether my reasoning holds up to scrutiny."

The Ask (very specific): "Would you spend 10 minutes reviewing this framework and telling me where the logic breaks down? I'm particularly interested in your thoughts on [specific aspect relevant to their work]."

The Hook Back: "If the reasoning is sound, it suggests some significant blind spots in current AI safety approaches that might be worth addressing."

Key principles:

• Respect their intelligence - don't explain basic concepts

• Challenge them intellectually rather than trying to convince them

• Ask for critique, not endorsement

• Make it about the logic, not the mission

• Keep it under 150 words total

The goal isn't conversion - it's getting them to engage with ideas that might influence their work from within existing systems.