Nick Bostrom
TL;DR: Nick Bostrom is a Swedish philosopher and futurist best known for his groundbreaking work on existential risk, artificial intelligence, and humanity’s long-term future.
Nick Bostrom by Sora
Nick Bostrom is a Swedish philosopher, author, and academic who has become one of the most influential thinkers on the ethics and implications of emerging technologies. His research focuses on how artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and other transformative innovations could affect the future of humanity, especially the risks that could threaten civilization itself.
Born in 1973 in Helsingborg, Sweden, Bostrom displayed an early fascination with science, philosophy, and mathematics. He later earned degrees in philosophy, mathematics, logic, and artificial intelligence, culminating in a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the London School of Economics. In 2005, he founded the Future of Humanity Institute (FHI) at the University of Oxford, where he serves as Professor and Director. The FHI has become one of the world’s leading centers for research into long-term global challenges, particularly artificial intelligence safety and existential risk.
Bostrom is perhaps best known for his seminal book Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies (2014), which explores the potential trajectories of advanced AI and the profound ethical and existential questions it raises. The book became a defining work in AI ethics, influencing policy discussions, academic research, and even the formation of AI safety organizations around the world.
His philosophical contributions extend beyond AI. Bostrom has written extensively on topics such as the Simulation Hypothesis, the idea that our reality could be an advanced computer simulation, and transhumanism, which explores how humanity might transcend its biological limitations through technology. His work continues to shape how both scholars and technologists think about the future of intelligence, ethics, and human progress.
Founder and Director of the Future of Humanity Institute (FHI) at the University of Oxford
Author of Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies, a landmark book on artificial intelligence and existential risk
Pioneer of the field of existential risk studies, defining the academic framework for analyzing civilization-scale threats
Introduced the Simulation Argument, one of the most influential philosophical hypotheses of the 21st century
Advocate for AI safety and ethical development, influencing global policy discussions on artificial intelligence governance.
Elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, recognized for contributions to philosophy and technology ethics.
Prolific researcher and educator, publishing over 200 papers and essays on human enhancement, ethics, and the future of technology
Nick Bostrom’s work continues to challenge humanity to look beyond short-term innovation and consider the ultimate question: how can we ensure that the technologies we create serve not just our generation, but all future generations?
