The Future Society (TFS) is a nonprofit organization focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and the rule of law. The Future Society has noted the advancement in AI technologies and provides research and training on technology trends and potential issues. TFS has provided policy and regulatory advice on implementing and updating laws and regulations as technology advances. The Future Society co-founded and cohosts a yearly gathering of interested parties, participates in various conferences and forums, and publishes research.

History

The Future Society was founded in 2014 and based in the United States and Europe with a mission to align artificial intelligence through better governance. ¹ The Future Society was originally founded as an incubator at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government and later became an independent nonprofit think tank. ²

The Future Society participates in conferences; organizes and hosts panels, workshops, and debates; and produces research and publications. ³

Positions

The Future Society is focused on artificial intelligence and the rule of law. ⁴ TFS is concerned that the speed of AI advancement is outpacing laws and regulations and is working to brief policymakers in the U.S. and European Union on current developments and concerns. ⁵ In 2023, the Future Society began a renewed focus on U.S. federal and state AI policies to ensure they are impartially and fairly enforced. ⁶

Since 2018, the Future Society began working with EU policymakers to develop laws and guidelines on AI trustworthiness, risk and quality management, safety, security, precaution, and fundamental rights. ⁷ The Future Society has made proposals to further strengthen EU AI laws and regulations. ⁸

The Future Society asserts that to research costs most advancement in AI will be in the private sector rather than the academic or public sectors. ⁹ As artificial intelligence systems become more capable, TFS notes it may be more difficult to forecast how they may be misused or will interact with society. ¹⁰ TFS has begun focusing on risks in the research and development of advanced AI systems and addressing risk mitigation to avoid large-scale incidents for safe, ethical, secure, and trustworthy AI. ¹¹

Programs

One of the main goals of The Future Society is to host, participate, and facilitate conferences and discussions on artificial intelligence and governance. ¹² In 2019, The Future Society co-founded its largest yearly event, the annual Athens Roundtable for artificial intelligence leaders. ¹³ The 2022 event hosted over 1,000 participants from 112 countries to gather and discuss AI governance. ¹⁴

In 2022, The Future Society along with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Open Society Foundations launched an online course on artificial intelligence and the rule of law. ¹⁵ The course focuses on opportunities and risks associated with the adoption of AI in judicial systems. ¹⁶ The Future Society also produced a model protocol for using AI technology in technology assisted review in legal discovery. ¹⁷

The Future Society supported the governments of Ghana and Tunisia in 2022 in developing AI policies, ethical guidelines, and developed implementation plans to achieve respective national objectives. ¹⁸ TFS has provided research and advisement for the government of Rwanda on AI strategy. ¹⁹

Financials

In 2021, the Future Society had net assets of $156,416. ²⁰ According to the organization’s tax returns, in 2021 The Future Society recorded $755,388 in revenue and $725,188 in expenses. ²¹ In 2020, the Future Society raised $996,245 in revenue and $847,713 in expenses. ²²

The Future Society has received grants from the Mozilla Foundation and the Jain Family Institute, and received a $250,000 grant from the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation in 2022. ²³ In 2021, the Future Society disclosed receiving grants of €101,592 (approximately $108,000) from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and €74,075 (approximately $79,016) from the Minderoo Foundation. ²⁴

Leadership

Nicolas Miailhe is the founder and president of The Future Society. ²⁵ Miailhe is a member of the Network of Experts on AI (previously OECD AI Expert Group), the UNESCO High Level Expert Group on AI Ethics, AI Expert at the World Bank, and member of the United Nations Sciences-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment. ²⁶ Miailhe has been a lecturer at the Paris School of International Affairs and the IE School of International Relations in Madrid, Spain and senior visiting research fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. ²⁷

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