Our mission
Steering transformative technology towards benefitting life and away from extreme large-scale risks.
We believe that the way powerful technology is developed and used will be the most important factor in determining the prospects for the future of life. This is why we have made it our mission to ensure that technology continues to improve those prospects.
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Our mission
Ensuring that our technology remains beneficial for life
Our mission is to steer transformative technologies away from extreme, large-scale risks and towards benefiting life.
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How certain technologies are developed and used has far-reaching consequences for all life on earth.
If properly managed, these technologies could change the world in a way that makes life substantially better, both for those alive today and those who will one day be born. They could be used to treat and eradicate diseases, strengthen democratic processes, mitigate - or even halt - climate change and restore biodiversity.
If irresponsibly managed, they could inflict serious harms on humanity and other animal species. In the most extreme cases, they could bring about the fragmentation or collapse of societies, and even push us to the brink of extinction.
The Future of Life Institute works to reduce the likelihood of these worst-case outcomes, and to help ensure that transformative technologies are used to the benefit of life.
Our missionIf properly managed, these technologies could change the world in a way that makes life substantially better, both for those alive today and those who will one day be born. They could be used to treat and eradicate diseases, strengthen democratic processes, mitigate - or even halt - climate change and restore biodiversity.
If irresponsibly managed, they could inflict serious harms on humanity and other animal species. In the most extreme cases, they could bring about the fragmentation or collapse of societies, and even push us to the brink of extinction.
The Future of Life Institute works to reduce the likelihood of these worst-case outcomes, and to help ensure that transformative technologies are used to the benefit of life.
Cause areas
The risks we focus on
We are currently concerned by three major risks. They all hinge on the development, use and governance of transformative technologies. We focus our efforts on guiding the impacts of these technologies.
UAV Kargu autonomous drones at the campus of OSTIM Technopark in Ankara, Turkey - June 2020.
Our work
How we are addressing these issues
There are many potential levers of change for steering the development and use of transformative technologies. We target a range of these levers to increase our chances of success.
Policy
We perform policy advocacy in the United States, the European Union, and the United Nations.
Our Policy workOutreach
We produce educational materials aimed at informing public discourse, as well as encouraging people to get involved.
Our Outreach workGrantmaking
We provide grants to individuals and organisations working on projects that further our mission.
Our Grant ProgramsEvents
We convene leaders of the relevant fields to discuss ways of ensuring the safe development and use of powerful technologies.
Our EventsFeatured Projects
What we're working on
Read about some of our current featured projects:
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newsletter
Regular updates about the technologies shaping our world
Every month, we bring 41,000+ subscribers the latest news on how emerging technologies are transforming our world. It includes a summary of major developments in our cause areas, and key updates on the work we do. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive these highlights at the end of each month.
FLI April 2021 Newsletter
FLI April 2021 Newsletter Policy & Outreach Efforts Exciting Updates to the FLI Website! Thanks to the tireless efforts of […]
Georgiana Gilgallon
May 13, 2021
FLI March 2021 Newsletter
FLI March 2021 Newsletter We’re Hiring! The Future of Life Institute is hiring for a Director of European Policy, Policy […]
Georgiana Gilgallon
April 7, 2021
FLI February 2021 Newsletter
FLI February 2021 Newsletter Nominate an Unsung Hero for the 2021 Future of Life Award! We’re excited to share that […]
Georgiana Gilgallon
February 20, 2021
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Our content
Latest posts
The most recent posts we have published:
New Report Calls Out Banks that Make Nuclear Weapons Investments
New Report Calls Out Banks that Make Nuclear Weapons Investments By Kirsten Gronlund Despite the 2017 international Treaty on the […]
June 6, 2019
Dr. Matthew Meselson Wins 2019 Future of Life Award
On April 9th, Dr. Matthew Meselson received the $50,000 Future of Life Award at a ceremony at the University of […]
April 9, 2019
2019 Statement to the United Nations in Support of a Ban on LAWS
The following statement was read on the floor of the United Nations during the March, 2019 CCW meeting, in which […]
March 28, 2019
AIS Program
Augmented Intelligence Summit Program We are so thrilled that you have chosen to spend next weekend with us at AIS, […]
March 22, 2019
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Policy papers
The most recent policy papers we have published:
View all policy papers
Future of Life Institute Podcast
The most recent podcasts we have broadcast:
November 24, 2022
Robin Hanson on Predicting the Future of Artificial Intelligence
Play
November 17, 2022
Robin Hanson on Grabby Aliens and When Humanity Will Meet Them
Play
November 10, 2022
Ajeya Cotra on Thinking Clearly in a Rapidly Changing World
Play
View all episodes