About us
What is the Future of Life Institute, and where did it come from?
Our mission
Preserving the future of life
How certain technologies are developed and used has far-reaching consequences for all life on earth. This is currently the case for artificial intelligence, biotechnologies and nuclear technology.
If properly managed, these technologies could transform the world in a way that makes life substantially better, both for the people alive today and for all the people who have yet to be born. They could be used to treat and eradicate diseases, strengthen democratic processes, and mitigate - or even halt - climate change.
If improperly managed, they could do the opposite. They could produce catastrophic events that bring humanity to its knees, perhaps even pushing us to the brink of extinction.
The Future of Life Institute’s mission is to steer transformative technologies away from extreme, large-scale risks and towards benefiting life.
Learn moreIf properly managed, these technologies could transform the world in a way that makes life substantially better, both for the people alive today and for all the people who have yet to be born. They could be used to treat and eradicate diseases, strengthen democratic processes, and mitigate - or even halt - climate change.
If improperly managed, they could do the opposite. They could produce catastrophic events that bring humanity to its knees, perhaps even pushing us to the brink of extinction.
The Future of Life Institute’s mission is to steer transformative technologies away from extreme, large-scale risks and towards benefiting life.
Our people
A team equal to the task
The Future of Life Institute is made up of a Core Team, a Board, and a Scientific Advisory Board. Collectively we represent a diverse range of expertise, having come to the Institute from governance institutions, industry and academia, and a variety of disciplines, including the behavioural sciences, medicine, machine learning, engineering, law and design.
Our history
The journey so far
The Future of Life Institute has come a long way since its early days. It was initially run by volunteers coordinated by co-founder Victoria Krakovna. Today, it has a full-time staff of 20+ team members around the world, mostly split into Policy, Outreach and Grantmaking teams.