Philosophy Graduate, Not STEM, Boosts AI Claude's Intelligence

AI development is often viewed as the domain of STEM graduates – those with degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

But the AI industry tells a different story. It’s not just for STEM experts; social science and humanities graduates – encompassing Social, Humanities, Art, People, Religious Studies, and Economics (SHARE) – also play a crucial role.

Amanda Askell doesn’t code. She never pursued STEM studies at university, earning her bachelor’s to doctorate degrees in philosophy.

Her interest in philosophical questions about existence and morality began in childhood, sparked by reading works by J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis while growing up in Prestwick, Scotland, raised by her teacher mother.

She initially studied fine arts and philosophy together at the University of Dundee, where she painted while contemplating life’s meaning.

Her academic journey continued at the University of Oxford for a BPhil, then culminated at New York University (NYU) with a PhD.

At NYU, her thesis tackled the complex field of infinite ethics, exploring how morality functions when applied to infinite populations. Armed with moral philosophy and an ability to embrace ambiguity, Askell entered the AI field.

She began her AI career at OpenAI in 2020, working as a research scientist focused on AI safety and co-authoring research papers on GPT-3.

However, over time, Askell noticed shifting priorities at the ChatGPT-maker. Citing reports, she resigned due to concerns that the company was prioritising technical capabilities over safety and caution.

It was then, in March 2021, that Anthropic, a startup founded by former OpenAI executives, approached her.