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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Autonomous Weapons Newsletter
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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 September 2022 Newsletter: $3M Impacts of Nuclear War Grants Program!
Welcome to the FLI newsletter! Every month, we bring 24,000+ subscribers the latest news on how emerging technologies are transforming our world - for better and worse.
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October 17, 2022
FLI August 2022 Newsletter
Nuclear Winter Deservedly Back in the Public Eye On 6th August, the Future of Life Institute proudly announced the winners […]
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September 14, 2022
FLI July 2022 Newsletter
Meet the First Recipients of FLI’s New Grants Program This month we are delighted to announce the inaugural winners of our […]
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August 1, 2022
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Our content
Latest posts
The most recent posts we have published:
10 Reasons Why Autonomous Weapons Must be Stopped
Lethal autonomous weapons pose a number of severe risks. These risks significantly outweigh any benefits they may provide, even for the world's most advanced military programs.
November 27, 2021
Real-Life Technologies that Prove Autonomous Weapons are Already Here
For years, we have seen the signs that lethal autonomous weapons were coming. Unfortunately, these weapons are no longer just 'in development' - they are starting to be used in real military applications. Slaugherbots are officially here.
November 22, 2021
Autonomous weapons: World Policy Map
Autonomous weapons: World Policy Map
November 10, 2021
Why support a ban on Autonomous weapons?
Why support a ban on Autonomous weapons? Artificial Intelligence (AI) will soon become the most powerful technology ever created. It […]
October 26, 2021
View all posts
Policy papers
The most recent policy papers we have published:
General Purpose AI and the AI Act
May 2022
Lessons from the NIST AI RMF for the EU AI Act
April 2022
Response to the RFI: Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Framework
April 2022
Response to the First Draft of the AI RMF
April 2022
View all policy papers
Future of Life Institute Podcast
The most recent podcasts we have broadcast:
May 26, 2023
Roman Yampolskiy on Objections to AI Safety
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