Machine Intelligence Research Institute (MIRI)
Originally technical alignment research; since 2024 pivoted to policy advocacy for an international halt to frontier AI development.
MIRI is the oldest AI-risk organisation and once did mathematical alignment research. It now argues publicly that the world should stop building superhuman AI until it can be made safe.
Focus
- Alignment research
- Pause/moratorium
- International governance
Funding, as far as we know
Donations and philanthropic grants (historically Open Philanthropy, Survival and Flourishing Fund, individual crypto donors) - https://intelligence.org/donate/
What they've actually done
Announced 2024 strategy shift from research to communications and policy, arguing alignment is not on track
4 January 2024
Yudkowsky and Soares published 'If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies' (Little, Brown), which became a NYT bestseller and a focal text for the 'ban superintelligence' campaign
16 September 2025
Leadership signed FLI's Statement on Superintelligence calling for a prohibition
22 October 2025