Upgradable is an applied research lab and life optimization service that helps effective altruists, AI safety researchers, and existential risk advocates lead more impactful lives.
Upgradable is an applied research lab and life optimization service that helps effective altruists, AI safety researchers, and existential risk advocates lead more impactful lives.
People
Updated 05/18/26Founder and CEO
UP Coach
UP Coach
Senior UP Coach
Talent acquisition expert
Funding Details
Updated 05/18/26- Annual Budget
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Org Details
Updated 05/18/26Upgradable is an applied research lab founded by James Norris with the stated mission of solving human flourishing. The organization's core offering is the Upgrade Program (UP), a systematic life optimization service for strategic, values-aligned individuals dedicated to doing the most good in the world, particularly those working on AI safety and existential risk reduction. The organization traces its roots to 2007, when James Norris developed the first iteration of what would become the Upgrade Program. It operated for years under the brand Self Spark and helped co-found EA Global (Effective Altruism Global) and Effective Altruism Ventures in 2015. The organization was rebranded as Upgradable and publicly relaunched in 2025. James Norris, its founder and CEO, is also the Executive Director of the Center for Existential Safety and has co-founded or helped build 27 organizations with cumulative operations of over 200 years. Upgradable has advised, consulted for, incubated, or otherwise supported 50+ organizations in the AI safety and effective altruism space since 2012. The Upgrade Program spans up to 29 life areas including career strategy, productivity, emotional wellbeing, physical health, financial security, relationships, and emergency preparedness. The organization positions itself as a personal assistant service for high-impact workers, offering free self-directed resources alongside paid coaching and specialist engagements lasting from one day to one year. For AI safety entrepreneurs, Upgradable also provides startup templates, organizational frameworks, and custom organization-building services. Upgradable has taken a Profits for Safety Pledge, committing 100% of profits to existential safety efforts. It accepts donations to subsidize services for financially-constrained AI safety advocates. The organization operates with a non-traditional employment model emphasizing results-only work, open-book management, and contribution-based compensation.
Theory of Change
Updated 05/18/26Upgradable believes that a key bottleneck to reducing existential risk from AI is the effectiveness of the individuals working on safety. By systematically optimizing the productivity, wellbeing, career strategy, and organizational capacity of AI safety researchers and entrepreneurs, Upgradable aims to amplify their impact. More effective individual contributors and better-functioning organizations in the AI safety space collectively increase humanity's chances of navigating the AI transition safely. Upgradable also operates on the premise that helping build and support EA/AI safety organizations (as it did with EA Global and EA Ventures) multiplies impact by growing the overall capacity of the field.
Grants Received– no grants recorded
Updated 05/18/26Projects
Updated 05/18/26An experimental life-optimization and goal-achievement program that uses emerging technology, behavioral science, and applied rationality to help participants set, plan, and achieve their most valuable life goals.
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