The Sentient Futures Summit is where AI experts, welfare researchers, animal advocates, and bold thinkers come together to make an impact.
Over three days, we'll network, learn, and explore how to direct transformative AI and other emerging technologies toward the welfare of animals and potentially sentient artificial minds. This is the 7th conference of our series, which has served as a premier meeting place for those working to ensure that non-human sentient beings are not left behind in the long-term future.
Help us advance the field.
This conference has played a key role in accelerating research about this important and neglected topic.
Apply to give a talk or facilitate a workshop. We're interested in proposals across a range of themes. If you have a compelling idea that pushes the conversation on non-human welfare forward, we'd love to hear it. Speakers receive complimentary tickets.
Longer talks spanning ethics and animal welfare in the age of transformative AI to consciousness, governance, and the future of artificial minds.
By putting different disciplines in the room together, Sentient Futures are helping animal and AI safety advocates think about problems that are neglected and unusual, interesting and important.
Structured networking and matchmaking to find collaborators, mentors, and people working on exactly what you need.
The most valuable part for me was the 1-on-1s. I've found people with expertise on things I need help with, in projects I've set out to do.
Unconference sessions and workshops shaped by the people in the room.
I found that the unconference sessions led to real, tangible project ideas, and I left feeling like we're on the cusp of something huge for animal welfare!
Our topics are roughly balanced between animal welfare and artificial minds, bringing both areas of non-human welfare into one room. No prior expertise required.
How should we account for the interests of different moral patients in AI systems? Explore how models represent and affect non-human beings, and how to build systems that better protect them.
Alignment researchers, AI builders, ethicists
Transformative AI has the potential to dramatically impact animals, for better or worse, and the movement is currently under-prepared for it. Advocates will explore what is coming, update their strategy, find neglected opportunities, and build relevant skills to steer this technology toward better outcomes for animals.
Advocates, campaigners, policy professionals
Explore fast-developing fields such as precision livestock farming, interspecies communication, alternative protein, and the frontier of genetic welfare. Gain knowledge, skills, and connections to make an impact for animals today.
Scientists, veterinarians, technologists, advocates
The philosophy and science of sentience from theories of consciousness to measuring experience in machines and creating frameworks for AI welfare. What do we owe artificial agents that may be sentient, and how would we know if they are?
Philosophers, cognitive scientists, AI researchers, ethicists
The frameworks, policy, and institutions needed to ensure AI benefits all sentient beings. Explore how to protect non-human interests as the technology develops, from today's regulation to the governance challenges on the horizon.
Governance experts, policymakers, safety researchers
Volunteering is a great way to meet people and contribute to the event. Volunteers work for about half the conference and receive a complimentary ticket.
Apply to give a talk, lightning talk, or facilitate a workshop. Speakers and facilitators receive complimentary tickets.
Apply to host a social meetup for farmed animal welfare, wild animal welfare, artificial minds, s-risk, or another topic. Meetup hosts receive a discount code for the ticket.
On the edge of the Mission District, a 15-minute walk from 16th St BART, with rooms for talks, focused work, 1-on-1s, and group discussions. Attendees get complimentary access to the co-working space the following week.
We will not be hosting a virtual summit this year. Keynote sessions will be recorded and posted to our YouTube channel.
We've reserved some space in Mox during the week between Sentient Futures Summit and EA Global for some attendees to co-work with us. Co-working sign-up form coming soon.
Yes. We offer discounted and free tickets — nobody is turned away for lack of funds. Volunteers and speakers receive complimentary tickets. Scholarship applications coming soon.
