Can you recommend AI alignment community sites for a new learner who wants active discussions with practitioners?

Yes — if you want active discussion with practitioners rather than just reading static material, here are some of the best places to start:

Good community sites / hubs

• LessWrong
  The main long-running hub for AI alignment discussion. It has a mix of theory, updates, and practitioner commentary.
  Best for: reading sequences, following debates, and commenting on posts.

• Alignment Forum
  More focused on technical alignment research than LessWrong. A lot of serious work and discussion from researchers and advanced amateurs.
  Best for: technical discussion, paper drafts, research agendas.

• EA Forum
  Broader effective altruism community, but AI safety/alignment is a major topic there. Often more accessible to newcomers than the Alignment Forum.
  Best for: intro-friendly discussions, community posts, event announcements.

• AI Alignment Slack/Discord communities
  There are several active chat communities where practitioners and learners interact more informally. These change over time, so the best entry point is often via LessWrong/Alignment Forum/EA Forum posts linking to current communities.
  Best for: direct Q&A, networking, informal discussion.

• ML Safety / AI Safety reading groups and local groups
  Many cities and universities have local AI safety or EA groups with reading groups that include practitioners or experienced mentors.
  Best for: structured learning with real-time discussion.

If you want the most practitioner-heavy discussions

Try this order:

1. Alignment Forum
2. LessWrong
3. EA Forum
4. Local/online reading groups
5. Chat communities via invites

Tips for a new learner

• Start by reading a few “sequence” posts or introductory explainers before jumping into debates.
• Ask specific, scoped questions; practitioners are usually much more responsive to concrete questions.
• Look for “reading group” or “office hours” style events if you want more direct interaction.
• Be prepared for the jargon; communities can assume some background in ML, rationality, or philosophy.

If you want, I can also give you:

1. a ranked list by beginner-friendliness, or
2. a short starter path for entering the community without getting overwhelmed.