Anthony Aguirre

Physicist, co-founder and chief executive of the Future of Life Institute, who argues that AGI and superintelligence would be uncontrollable and calls for a prohibition on their development until safety is proven and the public consents.

Roles

2014 – presentCo-founder, Executive Director, later President and CEO, Future of Life InstituteDescribed as executive director through 2025 and as president and CEO in 2026; the date of the title change is not verified.Source →
2015 – presentCo-founder, MetaculusSource →
2016 – presentFaggin Presidential Professor for the Physics of Information, University of California, Santa CruzSource →

On the record

8 Jun 2026 · Statement · Future of Life Institute
We are approaching a runaway to superintelligence that could threaten our shared human future.
Faggin Presidential Professor for the Physics of Information, University of California, Santa Cruz at the time
Responding to Anthropic's public acknowledgement that a pause in some development paths may be needed.
Statement: Anthropic warns of AI self-improvement risks, considers a pause →
6 Nov 2025 · Paper · Future of Life Institute
humanity is on track to develop superintelligent AI systems that would be fundamentally uncontrollable by humans
Faggin Presidential Professor for the Physics of Information, University of California, Santa Cruz at the time
Control Inversion →
22 Oct 2025 · Interview · TIME
Whether it's soon or it takes a while, after we develop superintelligence, the machines are going to be in charge. Whether or not that goes well for humanity, we really don't know. But that is not an experiment that we want to just run toward.
Faggin Presidential Professor for the Physics of Information, University of California, Santa Cruz at the time
On the launch of the Statement on Superintelligence, which he led.
Open Letter Calls for Ban on Superintelligent AI Development →
Mar 2025 · Book · keepthefuturehuman.ai
It's time to close the gates on AGI and superintelligence before we lose control of our future.
Faggin Presidential Professor for the Physics of Information, University of California, Santa Cruz at the time
Book-length essay published 5 March 2025 proposing compute caps, liability and tiered safety standards.
Keep The Future Human: Why and How We Should Close the Gates to AGI and Superintelligence, and What We Should Build Instead →
22 Mar 2024 · Post · Future of Life Institute
the time to hit the car brakes is not when the front wheels are already over a cliff edge.
Faggin Presidential Professor for the Physics of Information, University of California, Santa Cruz at the time
One year after the March 2023 "Pause Giant AI Experiments" letter he coordinated.
The Pause Letter: One year later →