Machine Intelligence and Normative Theory Lab (MINT Lab)
The Machine Intelligence and Normative Theory (MINT) Lab, founded and directed by Professor Seth Lazar, conducts philosophical and computational research on AI alignment, governance, and adaptation. Originally based at the Australian National University, the lab relocated its primary operations to the Johns Hopkins University School of Government and Policy in January 2025 while maintaining its ANU affiliation. MINT Lab's research spans three core areas: evaluating and enhancing AI normative competence (the ability to recognize and act on practical reasons), developing governance frameworks for autonomous AI agents, and rethinking moral and political theory for a post-AGI world. The lab is funded by the Australian Research Council, Templeton World Charity Foundation, Survival and Flourishing Fund, Schmidt Sciences, Google, OpenAI, and Insurance Australia Group.
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Theory of Change
MINT Lab believes that the transition to powerful AI systems poses fundamental challenges to liberal democratic values and institutions that require both philosophical rigor and technical competence to address. Their theory of change operates on three levels: first, by developing rigorous evaluations of AI normative competence, they aim to establish the philosophical and empirical foundations needed to determine when and whether AI systems can be trusted to act autonomously; second, by producing practical governance proposals for AI agents, they contribute to the institutional infrastructure needed for safe AI deployment in decentralized economies; and third, by advancing post-AGI political philosophy, they aim to ensure that democratic societies can adapt their fundamental theories of authority, legitimacy, and justice for a world where AI increasingly mediates social, economic, and political life. The lab's distinctive approach integrates traditional philosophical inquiry with hands-on technical AI research, producing work that publishes in both top philosophy journals and leading AI conferences.
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from Survival and Flourishing Fund
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- Last Updated
- Apr 2, 2026, 9:49 PM UTC
- Created
- Mar 18, 2026, 11:18 PM UTC