PIBBSS

Principles of Intelligent Behavior in Biological and Social Systems (PIBBSS) was co-founded in late 2021 by Nora Ammann and Tushita (TJ) Jha, with the inaugural fellowship running in summer 2022. The organization was established on the premise that safe development of AI systems is not grounded in a mature science, and that a wide variety of natural and social systems exhibit properties similar to those found in AI -- adaptation, robustness, goal-directed behavior, learning, modularity, and phase transitions. By facilitating careful analogies with these complex systems, PIBBSS aims to transfer knowledge about intelligent behavior to the study of alignment and AGI. The organization initially operated in the Czech Republic with fiscal sponsorship from Epistea, then relocated operations to London, and subsequently established a permanent US presence. It rebranded its umbrella entity to Principles of Intelligence (PrincInt), incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in Minnesota (EIN 33-4129337), and now hosts both the PIBBSS Fellowship and the Iliad applied mathematics research group. The flagship PIBBSS Fellowship is a three-month summer program (June through September) in London that pairs approximately 20 researchers from fields studying complex and intelligent behavior with established AI safety mentors. Fellows receive a $4,000/month stipend plus $1,000/month housing allowance, with meals and travel costs covered. The fellowship includes an eight-week pre-program reading group, multi-day retreats, and culminates in a final symposium. Specialized tracks include a Cooperative AI track (supported by the Cooperative AI Foundation) for up to 6 fellows focusing on multi-agent risks, and a Gradual Disempowerment track (supported by ACS Research) for up to 4 fellows studying systemic existential risks from incremental AI development. Beyond the fellowship, PIBBSS runs an Affiliate Program offering 6-12 months of tailored support for established researchers with stipends of $6,000-10,000/month, a Research Residency in applied mathematics with Iliad in London, and Horizon Scanning initiatives to proactively identify new fields to integrate into AI safety. The organization has also partnered with the Fields Institute for a two-year postdoctoral position in Mathematics for AI Safety based in Toronto. As of 2025, PIBBSS has supported approximately 50 researchers through its fellowship program over four cohorts. Alumni have gone on to work at organizations including Anthropic, OpenAI, the UK AI Safety Institute, and universities such as Oxford and Harvard. Alumni have also founded their own organizations, including Simplex. The organization is funded by Open Philanthropy, the Survival and Flourishing Fund, the AI Safety Tactical Opportunities Fund, the Cooperative AI Foundation, the Long-Term Future Fund, and the Foresight Institute.