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Oxford university shuts down the Future of Humanity Institute

Elon Musk-backed institute collapses after leader's past remarks and long-termism's controversies

19-Apr-2024

Key points from article :

Oxford University shut down the Future of Humanity Institute (FHI) after 19 years of operation.

FHI was led by Nick Bostrom, known for his work on long-termism and AI threats.

Elon Musk was a supporter of FHI and donated £1m to the institute.

The closure follows scandals involving racism, sexual harassment, and financial fraud within the effective altruism movement.

Bostrom resigned after resurfacing of a racist email he wrote decades ago.

Critics argue long-termism disregards current problems like climate change.

FHI faced administrative difficulties within Oxford's philosophy department.

University acknowledges FHI's contribution but will continue research elsewhere.

Mentioned in this article:

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Elon Musk

Technology entrepreneur, investor, and engineer

Future of Humanity Institute (FHI)

Multidisciplinary research institute at the University of Oxford

Nick Bostrom

Founding Director of the Future of Humanity Institute, Professor and Author

University of Oxford

Collegiate research university and one of the world's leading universities

Topics mentioned on this page:
Survival, Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Oxford university shuts down the Future of Humanity Institute