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Nick Bostrom

Director

Future of Humanity Institute

POSITION

Director

COMPANY

Future of Humanity Institute

COUNTRY

Sweden

Website

Nick Bostrom

SCENE

Business

SOCIAL

LinkedIn

Twitter

What makes Nick Bostrom a Global Shaker?

Labeled “the Philosopher of Doomsday” by the New Yorker, Dr. Nick Bostrom is an Oxford professor who authored the nonfiction book SuperIntelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies, which is highly recommended by Bill Gates. His theories on superintelligence made tech tycoon Elon Musk begin to fear the rise of general AI.

Dr. Bostrom is a Swedish philosopher from Helsinborg. During his undergraduate studies, he concurrently undertook full-time programs in physics, philosophy, mathematical logic, and artificial intelligence; his undergraduate performance set a national record in Sweden. He then completed a master’s in physics and philosophy at the University of Stockholm and a master’s in astrophysics and general relativity at Kings College in London. He holds a PhD in philosophy from the London School of Economics.

He is a philosopher at the University of Oxford, where he founded the university’s Future of Humanity Institute. The institute, which focuses on multidisciplinary research in mathematics, philosophy, social sciences, and science, is the process of receiving a contribution of up to £13.3 million from the Open Philanthropy Project. The funding will, among other things, support research in governance of AI, technical AI safety, biosecurity, and other challenges arising from advanced technologies.

Dr. Bostrom has also directed the Strategic Artificial Intelligence Research Centre since 2015. While living in London, the doomsday philosopher even tried his hand at stand-up comedy in the city’s pub and theater scene.

Last updated: April 24, 2019