Elon Musk donates $10M to keep AI beneficial | The Future of Life Institute

Elon Musk, creator of Tesla and SpaceX, has decided to donate $10M to the Future of Life Institute to run a global research program aimed at keeping AI beneficial to humanity.

There is now a broad consensus that AI research is progressing steadily, and that its impact on society is likely to increase. A long list of leading AI-researchers have signed an open letter calling for research aimed at ensuring that AI systems are robust and beneficial, doing what we want them to do. Musk’s donation aims to support precisely this type of research: “Here are all these leading AI researchers saying that AI safety is important”, says Elon Musk. “I agree with them, so I’m today committing $10M to support research aimed at keeping AI beneficial for humanity.”

The $10M program will be administered by the Future of Life Institute, a non-profit organization whose scientific advisory board includes AI-researchers Stuart Russell and Francesca Rossi. “I love technology, because it’s what’s made 2015 better than the stone age”, says MIT professor and FLI president Max Tegmark. “Our organization studies how we can maximize the benefits of future technologies while avoiding potential pitfalls.”

Read more on the Future of Life Institute.

Hallie Siegel robotics editor-at-large

Hallie Siegel robotics editor-at-large