Problem Profile

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About

80,000 Hours was co-founded in 2011 by philosopher Will MacAskill and Benjamin Todd, emerging from Oxford University's effective altruism community and incubated by the Centre for Effective Altruism. The organization takes its name from the approximate number of working hours in a career, reflecting its mission to help individuals maximize the impact of that time. The problem profiles program is one of 80,000 Hours' most influential research outputs. These are long-form, regularly updated analyses of the world's most pressing problems, each structured around the question: given limited time and talent, which problems offer the most promising opportunities for a high-impact career? The framework evaluates problems on three dimensions: scale (how many people are affected and how severely), neglectedness (how much resources are already directed at it), and tractability (whether progress is realistically achievable). As of 2025, their top-priority problem areas include risks from power-seeking AI systems, AI-enabled concentration of power, engineered pandemics, great power conflict, and factory farming. They also cover emerging concerns such as the moral status of digital minds, gradual human disempowerment by AI, and S-risks (potential suffering at astronomical scales). In June 2025, they significantly restructured their problem list to reflect a sharper focus on AGI-transition risks. Research is produced by a writing and research team, with articles assigned primary authors and reviewed internally before publication. For major profiles, drafts are circulated to external researchers and domain experts for feedback. The website director holds final editorial authority. The organization acknowledges high uncertainty in its rankings and explicitly invites disagreement. 80,000 Hours completed a spinout from Effective Ventures Foundation on April 1, 2025, forming two UK entities: 80,000 Hours Limited (operations) and 80,000 Hours Foundation (registered charity and IP holder). As of 2024, the organization had approximately 36.81 full-time-equivalent staff and an annual budget of roughly $10.38 million. Their largest funder has been Coefficient Giving (backed by Dustin Moskovitz and Cari Tuna), which has contributed over £20 million cumulatively. Open Philanthropy is also a major donor. Total funding received as of May 2024 was approximately £30.9 million. Niel Bowerman serves as CEO, appointed in January 2024.

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Last Updated: Apr 3, 2026, 12:24 AM UTC
Created: Apr 3, 2026, 12:24 AM UTC