Leaf: Dilemmas and Dangers in AI

Leaf is a nonprofit organization that runs online educational fellowships for exceptional teenagers aged 15-19 who have not yet started university. Founded in 2021 by Alex Holness-Tofts and later led by Jamie Harris and then Jonah Boucher, Leaf addresses a gap in conventional education: most schooling focuses on academic achievement and university admissions rather than helping young people explore how to direct their talents toward doing the most good. The organization's flagship AI safety course, Dilemmas and Dangers in AI, is a 5-week online program combining self-paced content, weekly facilitated discussion groups, and optional talks and Q&As with AI safety researchers and professionals from organizations such as Anthropic, Redwood Research, AI Impacts, and the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk. The curriculum spans the promise and perils of current AI systems, extinction risk scenarios, AI misalignment and deception, AI governance and policy, and practical paths for students to contribute to AI safety in technical and non-technical roles. Leaf also offers courses in other impact areas including The Mathematics of Morality, Biology for a Better Tomorrow, and Power, Policy, and Progress. Top participants receive custom mentorship, referrals to selective programs, access to funding opportunities, and ongoing community support. As of early 2026, Leaf had run cohorts reaching over 3,900 applicants from 90+ countries, with 368 students accepted in the Winter 2026 cohort alone. Approximately 87% of participants earned completion certificates, and nearly 90% reported increased confidence in their ability to make a positive impact. The organization is a US-registered 501(c)(3) and was previously funded primarily by the EA Infrastructure Fund, with support now also from Carina Initiatives. Parent tuition revenue grew to the point of covering cohort expenses by early 2026, signaling increasing financial sustainability.