Forethought

Forethought Research is a nonprofit research organization headquartered in Oxford, UK, dedicated to preparing humanity for advanced AI development. The organization was cofounded in mid-2024 by Max Dalton (formerly Executive Director at the Centre for Effective Altruism), William MacAskill, Tom Davidson, and Amrit Sidhu-Brar. It evolved from the earlier Forethought Foundation for Global Priorities Research (founded 2018 by MacAskill), maintaining some administrative continuity while operating as an entirely new project with a distinct AI-focused mission. Forethought's research agenda spans several critical areas: understanding the dynamics of AI-enabled coups and power concentration risks, modeling how AI R&D automation could trigger an intelligence explosion, developing AI tools for existential security, exploring governance frameworks for advanced AI (including international cooperation models), investigating digital rights and space governance, and articulating pathways to genuinely flourishing futures rather than merely surviving. The team is intentionally small and selective, hiring researchers with strong records in AI futures research. Core team members include Director Max Dalton, Senior Research Fellows William MacAskill and Tom Davidson, Head of Strategic Initiatives Stefan Torges, Director of Operations Amrit Sidhu-Brar, and several research fellows and researchers. The organization also hosts visiting fellows on 3-12 month placements. Forethought publishes research papers and notes, runs a podcast called ForeCast, and distributes a newsletter called ForeWord via Substack. Their research has fed into AI companies' plans, shaped 80,000 Hours' top problem profile list, and helped catalyze a safety-focused VC fund. The organization's board includes Max Daniel (Chair, Chief of Staff at Open Philanthropy/Coefficient Giving), Katie Hearsum (Treasurer, COO at Longview), Howie Lempel (Policy Director at Secure AI Project), William MacAskill, and Ryan Greenblatt (Chief Scientist at Redwood Research). Forethought has been evaluated and endorsed by Longview Philanthropy and Coefficient Giving (formerly Open Philanthropy). The organization raised $4.1 million in 2025 and received a $103,000 grant recommendation from the Survival and Flourishing Fund in its 2025 S-Process round.