Nick Bostrom

Philosopher and writer · Sweden · On the map · Academics · Born 1973 · age 53

Nick Bostrom is a philosopher known for his work on existential risk, the anthropic principle, human enhancement ethics, whole brain emulation, superintelligence risks, and the reversal test.

Nick Bostrom is read about 901 times a day, in 36 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 8 November 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 402 days, one point a day.

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A life in dates

2014“In this book, I try to understand the challenge presented by the prospect of superintelligence, and how we might best respond.”In their wordsPrefaceRead the whole statement

“The gap between a dumb and a clever person may appear large from an anthropocentric perspective, yet in a less parochial view the two have nearly indistinguishable minds.”In their wordsCh. 4Read the whole statement

“Perhaps it is a sign of civilizational progress that the very idea of threatening a nuclear first strike today seems borderline silly or morally obscene.”In their wordsCh. 5Read the whole statement

“Even a single missed crucial consideration could vitiate our most valiant efforts or render them as actively harmful as those of a soldier who is fighting on the wrong side.”In their wordsCh. 15Read the whole statement

“In this situation, any feeling of gee-wiz exhilaration would be out of place.”In their wordsCh. 15Read the whole statement

2008“The universe is cold. Fun is the fire that melts the blocks of hardship and creates a bubbling celebration of life.”In their wordsLetter From Utopia (2008)Read the whole statement

1973Born10 March 1973

People around Nick

Close ties

David Pearce Co-founded Humanity+

Also in Deutsch Français

Media & music

Photos 1

In their own words 4

Nick Bostrom

4 statements, newest first

Observers in earlier epochs might have found it equally preposterous to suppose that the world economy would one day be doubling several times within a single lifespan.
2014 · Ch. 1, Own words
Solving the value-loading problem is a research challenge worthy of some of the next generation’s best mathematical talent.
2014 · Ch. 12, Own words
Before the prospect of an intelligence explosion, we humans are like small children playing with a bomb.
2014 · Ch. 15, Own words

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About this person

He was the founding director of the later defunct Future of Humanity Institute at the University of Oxford and has become Principal Researcher at the Macrostrategy Research Initiative.

Country

Sweden