Who's who · Research institutes

Future of Life Institute

Non-profit that works to steer advanced AI and other powerful technologies away from extreme risks

At a glance

Founded

2014

Based in

California, United States

People

Anthony Aguirre, President and chief executive; Max Tegmark, Founder and chair; Jaan Tallinn, Board member

Known for

Pause Giant AI Experiments letter, Statement on Superintelligence, AI Safety Index

Funding

Non-profit 501(c)(3); funded by an endowment from Vitalik Buterin's 2021 donation

Website

https://futureoflife.org

The Future of Life Institute (FLI) is a non-profit that works to steer transformative technology, above all advanced AI, away from extreme large-scale risks. It also works on biotechnology and nuclear weapons, through policy advocacy, public education, research and grantmaking.

FLI was founded in 2014 and held its launch event at MIT that May. It organised the March 2023 open letter calling for a pause on training AI systems more powerful than GPT-4, and in October 2025 it released the Statement on Superintelligence, which calls for a prohibition on building superintelligence until there is broad scientific consensus that it can be done safely and strong public support. It also publishes the AI Safety Index, in which experts grade leading AI companies on safety and security.

A 2021 donation from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin created FLI's endowment, which funds its work, and FLI does not accept donations from AI companies. Anthony Aguirre is president and chief executive, and Max Tegmark, a founder, chairs the board. It has offices in California, Brussels, London and Washington DC.

Sources

1. Future of Life Institute, Frequently Asked Questions, 2026-10-02
2. Future of Life Institute, Our people, 2026-10-02
3. Future of Life Institute, Our history, 2026-10-02
4. UNSW Sydney, AI heavyweights call for end to 'superintelligence' research, 2025-10-23

Facts last checked 2026-10-02