Yoshua Bengio Launches AI Safety Lab LawZero

AI Pioneer Establishes Nonprofit for Safer Artificial Intelligence

Yoshua Bengio, renowned Turing Award winner and one of artificial intelligence’s founding figures, is establishing LawZero – a nonprofit AI safety laboratory dedicated to developing more secure artificial intelligence systems. The announcement came in an exclusive interview with the Financial Times this week.

Inspired by Sci-Fi, Funded by Tech Luminaries

Drawing inspiration from Isaac Asimov’s fictional Zeroth Law of Robotics, which prioritizes human protection above all directives, Bengio’s initiative has secured $30 million in funding from notable tech figures. Backers include:

• Jaan Tallinn (Skype founding engineer)
• Eric Schmidt (former Google CEO)
• Open Philanthropy
• Future of Life Institute

From AI Pioneer to Safety Advocate

As one of the architects of modern machine learning, Bengio has emerged as a leading voice in AI safety discussions. His advocacy recently included public support for California’s SB 1047, proposed legislation that would regulate advanced AI systems to prevent potential catastrophic outcomes.

In his Financial Times interview, Bengio expressed skepticism about major AI companies’ commitment to safety measures, stating: “I have little faith in OpenAI and Google to prioritize safety as they race toward more intelligent AI systems.”

LawZero’s Mission in the AI Arms Race

The new laboratory represents a significant development in the growing field of AI safety research. As artificial intelligence systems become more powerful, LawZero aims to establish fundamental safeguards before potentially dangerous capabilities emerge.