Who are the Zizians?

The Zizians emerged from the rationalist community with a distinct set of beliefs, having parted ways over various issues including animal rights and ethical veganism.

Zizians, From the Rationalist Community, Emphasize Logical and Scientific Thinking to Question and Revise Beliefs

Ziz was a central figure in the rationalist community, known for her intense dedication and radical beliefs about animal rights. She encountered the rationalist movement in college, which prized logical tools to consistently question and revise one's thoughts. The community, situated around Silicon Valley, is marked by its scientific approach and openness to debate.

Ziz moved from Alaska to the Bay Area to engage with sites of rationalist thought, such as the Center for Applied Rationality (CFAR) and the Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI). Despite the high living costs of San Francisco and Silicon Valley, Ziz shunned a lucrative tech job for a lifestyle aligned with her convictions.

Ziz, a Central Figure, Was a Brilliant Rationalist Who Became Increasingly Radical on Animal Rights and Ethics

Her uncompromising commitment to veganism and animal rights advocacy was notable even within the rationalist community. Ziz's beliefs became increasingly radical, leading to tensions with the rationalist group she had initially joined.

Zizians Left Rationalist Community Over Trans Issues and Alleged Misconduct

The schism with the rationalist community intensified when Ziz took issue with MIRI's handling of blackmail related to accusations of sexual assault or statutory rape, which she felt were not addressed according to the rational principles of the community.

Zizians ...

The Zizians, a controversial group, have been involved in a series of confrontational and violent incidents, leading to a swath of legal troubles and allegations of serious crimes.

Zizians' Tactics Sparked Clashes With Rationalists, Leading To Protest Arrests

Ziz and her group attended the CIFAR seminar conference in 2019 to voice their grievances but were barred entry due to their aggressive approach. Undeterred, Ziz, along with Gwen Danielson, Emma Baranian, and Alex Latham, disrupted the retreat with Guy Fawkes masks and black robes, blocking exits and distributing flyers. The situation escalated, resulting in police arresting them on charges of false imprisonment and child endangerment after a mistaken report of an active shooter. They later sued the police for mistreatment.

Exiled From Rationalists, Zizians' Ideas Radicalized

Following the CIFAR incident, the rationalist community excommunicated Ziz and her followers, leading to a radicalization of their ideas.

Allegations of Zizians' Unethical Behavior, Including Sleep Deprivation Experiments and Suspected Suicides

Ziz was reported dead following a boating accident, but her body was not found and she was declared legally dead after a search. Gwen Danielson also reportedly died by suicide the same year. However, detectives later found them alive, implicating the group in faking their deaths.

Curtis Lind was seriously assaulted by members of the Zizians, which eventually led to the shooting death of Emma Baranian. Alex Latham and Suri Dow faced attempted murder charges linked to these events. An unsettling plot surfaced involving the intended murder and dissolution of Curtis Lynn's body.

Zizians Accused Of Faking Deaths, Assaulting Property Owner, Murdering Border Patrol Agent

The Zizians' legal woes compounded after Michelle Zajko and Daniel Blank, affiliated with the group, were linked to the death of a Border Patrol agent. They, along with others, were apprehended with suspicious items, leading to arrests and charges. Maximilian Schneider's association with the death of Curtis Lind in Vallejo added to the Zizians' alleged crimes. These incidents culminated ...

The Zizians, named so by their critics, are a closely-knit group centering around Ziz, a charismatic trans woman leader. They are drawn together by common interests in areas such as AI alignment and animal rights, forming tight bonds with one another, including romantic relationships.

Zizians: Young, Brilliant, Often Trans or Non-binary Individuals Drawn To Ziz's Charismatic Leadership

The group consists of disaffected, young, and often trans individuals with a penchant for brilliance, particularly in fields like math, computer science, and biometrics. Ziz's prolific blogging skill attracted such people online. Before congregating in person, these individuals already had significant backgrounds in these areas. Ziz herself had internships at Oracle and NASA, indicating her advanced technical skills.

Gwen Danielson, another rationalist and trans woman, met Ziz through their shared interest in animal rights. Members like Ophelia Bockholt – a trans math genius drawn to effective altruism – Maximilian Snyder – a data scientist – Milo Youngblut, who attended an elite private school, Emma Baranian – a former programmer at Google – Alex Leatham, occasionally known as Somni – a mathematician with education from prestigious universities – Michelle Zaschko, a biometrics researcher, and Alice Munday – Zaschko's girlfriend and a mentor to Ziz, all exemplify the kind of brilliance and skill that define the Zizians.

Zizians Formed Close Relationships, Including Romantic Ones, Deepening Group Isolation

Members of the group formed intimate connections, evidenced by Snyder and Youngblut applying for a marriage license. Ziz and Gwen lived together on a sailboat and were part of a rationalist fleet, consolidating their dedication to their causes. Such arrangements ...