AFFINE Technical Research

AFFINE, which stands for Agent Foundations FIeld NEtwork, is a new organization launched in early 2026 by Mateusz Baginski, a cognitive science graduate and former PIBBSS Fellow who focuses on theoretical agent foundations research. AFFINE's mission is to address what it views as a systematic neglect of research aimed at finding solutions to the superintelligence alignment problem within the broader AI safety ecosystem. The organization's primary program is the AFFINE Superintelligence Alignment Seminar, an intensive month-long residential program held at Hostacov Chateau near Prague, Czechia. The inaugural seminar is scheduled for April 28 to May 28, 2026, with capacity for approximately 30 participants. The program emphasizes deep learning and collaborative knowledge-building rather than immediate research output. Participants study topics judged likely important for taking serious shots at superintelligence alignment, engaging through reading materials, 1-on-1 peer teaching, lectures, workshops, public debates, and double-crux sessions. Mentors for the program include prominent alignment researchers such as Abram Demski (ex-MIRI), Ramana Kumar (DeepMind), Steve Byrnes (Astera Institute), Kaj Sotala (ex-MIRI), Kaarel Hanni (Mila), Cole Wyeth, Aram Ebtekar, Elliot Thornley, Linda Linsefors, and Paul Rapoport. Two full-time on-site mentors, Ouro (ex-Orthogonal) and Jonas Hallgren (Equilibria Network), provide continuous support throughout the seminar. The AFFINE Fellowship is a planned year-long extension offered to approximately 10 of the most promising seminar participants, selected for collaborative excellence rather than individual competition. The fellowship aims to create a cohesive network of researchers who continue collaborating after the seminar ends. AFFINE's work is organized into at least two tracks: Technical Research (covering theoretical agent foundations work) and Algorithm Design (covering more applied algorithmic approaches). This database entry specifically represents the Technical Research track, which received $165,000 in grant recommendations from the Survival and Flourishing Fund's 2025 S-Process round. AFFINE operates under fiscal sponsorship from Ashgro, Inc., a Delaware-incorporated 501(c)(3) public charity.

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