Future of Life Institute
An AI 'doomer' group that received a large donation from Vitalik Buterin and has been funding journalism fellowships to promote negative coverage of AI.
First Mentioned
12/20/2025, 4:59:18 AM
Last Updated
12/20/2025, 5:00:04 AM
Research Retrieved
12/20/2025, 5:00:04 AM
Summary
The Future of Life Institute (FLI) is a nonprofit organization founded in March 2014, headquartered in Campbell, California. It is dedicated to steering transformative technologies, particularly advanced artificial intelligence, toward benefiting humanity while mitigating large-scale existential risks. FLI operates through a combination of grantmaking, educational outreach, and policy advocacy, engaging with major international bodies such as the United Nations, the United States government, and European Union institutions. While the institute is supported by prominent figures like Elon Musk and Jaan Tallinn, it has recently been the subject of public debate; critics on the All-In Podcast have characterized it as part of a 'doomer industrial complex' funded by billionaires like Vitalik Buterin and Dustin Moskovitz to shape the narrative around AI risks.
Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
Founded
2014-03-01
Founders
Max Tegmark, Jaan Tallinn, Viktoriya Krakovna, Meia Chita-Tegmark, Anthony Aguirre
Staff Size
20+ full-time employees
Headquarters
Campbell, California, United States
Primary Focus
Existential risk reduction, Artificial Intelligence safety
Organization Type
Non-profit research institute
Timeline
- The Future of Life Institute is founded by a group of scientists and entrepreneurs to address existential risks. (Source: Wikipedia)
2014-03-01
- Co-founder Max Tegmark speaks at the Web Summit 2024 in Lisbon regarding AI futures. (Source: Web Search (futureoflife.org))
2024-11-01
- FLI representative Emilia Javorsky attends the Vienna Autonomous Weapons Conference. (Source: Web Search (futureoflife.org))
2025-04-01
Wikipedia
View on WikipediaFuture of Life Institute
The Future of Life Institute (FLI) is a nonprofit organization which aims to steer transformative technology towards benefiting life and away from large-scale risks, with a focus on existential risk from advanced artificial intelligence (AI). FLI's work includes grantmaking, educational outreach, and advocacy within the United Nations, United States government, and European Union institutions. The founders of the Institute include MIT cosmologist Max Tegmark, UCSC cosmologist Anthony Aguirre, and Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn; among the institute's advisors is entrepreneur Elon Musk.
Web Search Results
- Future of Life Institute - Wikipedia
37°17′08″N 121°56′39″W / 37.285476°N 121.944084°W / 37.285476; -121.944084 The Future of Life Institute (FLI) is a nonprofit organization which aims to steer transformative technology towards benefiting life and away from large-scale risks, with a focus on existential risk from advanced artificial intelligence (AI). FLI's work includes grantmaking, educational outreach, and advocacy within the United Nations, United States government, and European Union institutions. [...] FLI was founded in March 2014 by MIT cosmologist Max Tegmark, Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn, DeepMind research scientist Viktoriya Krakovna, Tufts University postdoctoral scholar Meia Chita-Tegmark, and UCSC physicist Anthony Aguirre. The institute's advisors include computer scientists Stuart J. Russell and Francesca Rossi, biologist George Church, cosmologist Saul Perlmutter, astrophysicist Sandra Faber, theoretical physicist Frank Wilczek, entrepreneur Elon Musk, and actors and science [...] | Abbreviation | FLI | | Formation | March 2014; 11 years ago (2014-03) | | Founders | Jaan Tallinn Max Tegmark Viktoriya Krakovna Anthony Aguirre Meia Chita-Tegmark | | Type | Non-profit research institute | | Purpose | Reduction of existential risk, particularly from advanced artificial intelligence | | Headquarters | Campbell, California, United States |
- Future of Life Institute (FLI)
The Future of Life Institute (FLI) is an independent nonprofit that works to reduce extreme, large-scale risks from transformative technologies, as well as steer the development and use of these technologies to benefit life. The Institute's work primarily consists of grantmaking, educational outreach, and policy advocacy within the U.S. government, European Union institutions, and United Nations, but also includes running conferences and contests. FLI has become one of the world's leading [...] # Future of Life Institute (FLI) Independent global non-profit working to steer transformative technologies to benefit humanity. Civic and Social Organizations • Campbell, California • 21,173 followers • 11-50 employees [...] outlining the Statement. 🔗 Watch below, and sign & share at the link in the comments!: [Likes: 42, Comments: 8]; Future of Life Institute (FLI) (5d): Top AI companies are racing to build superintelligent AI, despite its profound risks. Until we can make it safe and controllable, this reckless race is unacceptable - and most of the public agree. Join 1,000+ signatories, including hundreds of top AI experts, scientists, leaders, entrepreneurs, and creatives, calling to prohibit the development of
- About us
#### Recent projects # About us # Our mission ## Preserving the future of life # Our people ## A team equal to the task # 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. See a full timeline of FLI's history: [...] # Related pages ## Were you looking for something else? Here are a couple of other pages you might have been looking for: ### Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) ### Contact us ### Donate # Sign up for the Future of Life Institute newsletter Steering transformative technology towards benefiting life and away from extreme large-scale risks. Our Mission #### Focus areas #### Our work #### Our content #### About us [...] # Our Public Records ## Annual reports #### 2023 Annual Report #### 2022 Annual Report ## Frequently Asked Questions We've provided answers to a range of common questions we've been asked about the Future of Life Institute, including: What work does FLI do? Where is FLI based? Who funds FLI? How do you decide your policy positions? And more. # Contact us ## Let's put you in touch with the right person. #### General inquiries #### Policy #### Futures #### Grants #### Press
- Press Release — New Project with Future of Life Institute
> As competition over artificial intelligence accelerates, understanding how AI competition shapes national security decisions is vital to avoiding the mistakes of past arms races. By supporting this project with BRL, the Future of Life Institute aims to help policymakers understand how competition itself can amplify the risks of miscalculation and escalation. Mapping these dynamics is essential to ensuring that advances in AI strengthen global security rather than undermine it. > [...] Berkeley, CA – The University of California, Berkeley’s Risk and Security Lab (BRSL) at the Goldman School of Public Policy in collaboration with the Future of Life Institute (FLI) is launching a new multi-phase research project aimed at mapping the trajectories of U.S. and Chinese AI development, reviewing each country’s approaches to undermining each other’s development, and assessing blind spots that may lead to escalation risks. [...] The United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are each seeking to scale artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities across government and the private sector, leading both governments to develop policies that aim to counterbalance, outcompete, or undermine the progress of the other’s AI ecosystem. This year-long research project focuses on the respective countries’ AI development trajectories, toolkits for targeting or undermining each other’s development ecosystems, and concerns and
- Future of Life Institute: Home
## Our Mission Steering transformative technology towards benefiting 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. Learn more ## Focus Areas ### Artificial Intelligence [...] Image: Our latest Futures project—a series of interactive, research-backed scenarios of how AI could transform the world.Communications ↗ We produce educational materials aimed at informing public discourse, as well as encouraging people to get involved. Image: Max Tegmark takes the stage on opening night at Web Summit 2024 in Lisbon.Grantmaking ↗ We provide grants to individuals and organisations working on projects that further our mission. [...] Skip to content # Fighting for a human future. AI is poised to remake the world. Help us ensure it benefits all of us. Learn moreTake action Policy & Research ↗ We engage in policy advocacy and research across the United States, the European Union and around the world. Image: FLI’s Emilia Javorsky at the Vienna Autonomous Weapons Conference 2025Futures ↗ The Futures program aims to guide humanity towards the beneficial outcomes made possible by transformative technologies.