Sentience Institute
Sentience Institute is an interdisciplinary think tank dedicated to expanding humanity's moral circle through rigorous social science research. Founded in 2017 by Jacy Reese Anthis and Kelly Anthis, the institute conducts research at the intersection of AI ethics, moral psychology, and social movements. Their flagship project, the Artificial Intelligence, Morality, and Sentience (AIMS) Survey, is a nationally representative longitudinal study of U.S. public attitudes toward AI sentience, moral consideration, and policy. The institute also researches farmed animal advocacy strategies, moral circle expansion, and the conditions under which humans extend moral consideration to non-human entities.
Funding Details
- Annual Budget
- $164,090
- Monthly Burn Rate
- $13,674
- Current Runway
- -
- Funding Goal
- -
- Funding Raised to Date
- $1,302,185
- Fiscal Sponsor
- -
Theory of Change
Sentience Institute's theory of change operates through interdisciplinary research that identifies the factors driving moral circle expansion and informs advocates, policymakers, and institutions. They believe that rigorous social science research on how humans perceive and extend moral consideration to non-human entities (both animals and digital minds) can equip activists, donors, investors, governments, and firms with the knowledge needed to shift social norms and implement more morally inclusive laws and policies. On digital minds specifically, they believe that better understanding of how people perceive AI sentience and moral status, combined with research on the actual indicators of sentience in AI systems, will lead to more accurate forecasts, better strategic prioritization, and concrete strategies for ensuring the moral consideration of potentially sentient AI as systems become more capable. Their work aims to build the empirical foundation that can prevent large-scale moral catastrophes involving digital minds.
Grants Received
from Survival and Flourishing Fund
Projects
No linked projects.
People
No linked people.
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Details
- Last Updated
- Apr 2, 2026, 9:50 PM UTC
- Created
- Mar 18, 2026, 11:18 PM UTC