Technical Governance Researcher

About the Organization

The Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI) has worked for over two decades to understand and prepare for the critical challenges humanity will face as it transitions to a world with artificial superintelligence. MIRI's technical and philosophical work helped found the field of AI alignment, originating many of the theories and concepts central to today’s discussions of AI.

Recent rapid advances in artificial intelligence have dramatically shortened estimates of when superintelligence will arrive. Technical progress on safety, alignment, and control has not kept pace. Humanity does not currently understand the internal workings of present AI systems well enough to completely control or robustly steer their behaviors, let alone the far more powerful systems expected in the coming years.

MIRI warns that if artificial superintelligence (ASI) is developed and deployed using current methods, the most likely outcome is human extinction. This concern is shared by many experts, including some within organizations at the cutting edge of AI development. Despite these risks, progress toward ASI continues at a breakneck pace. MIRI advocates for a globally coordinated and collectively enforced moratorium on ASI development, implemented as soon as possible and maintained for as long as necessary.

Mission

To delay the creation of artificial superintelligence (ASI) in order to prevent human extinction and ensure humanity's survival.