Transformer

Transformer is a journalism publication focused on the power and politics of transformative AI. It was founded in May 2023 by Shakeel Hashim, who previously served as a news editor at The Economist and head of communications at the Center for Effective Altruism. The publication launched as a weekly newsletter briefing for policymakers and those interested in AI governance and safety, and has grown to tens of thousands of subscribers. In 2024-2025, Transformer expanded significantly from a solo operation into a full editorial newsroom. The team now includes Jasper Jackson as managing editor (formerly of The Bureau of Investigative Journalism and The Guardian), Veronica Irwin as senior policy reporter covering AI policy from Washington DC and New York, Celia Ford as a Bay Area-based reporter with a neuroscience PhD from UC Berkeley, and Jamie Condliffe as opinion editor. Transformer is a project of the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism, an independent 501(c)(3) public charity that supports journalism helping society navigate the development of advanced AI. The Tarbell Center's primary funder is Coefficient Giving (formerly Open Philanthropy), which has provided $1M+ in lifetime giving to the center. The editorial team is distributed across London, New York, Washington DC, Oakland, and Yorkshire. The publication maintains full editorial independence from its funders, with no funder involvement in story selection, content review, or framing. Transformer covers AI governance, policy developments, safety research, and the political economy of AI, with the premise that decision-makers need independent, credible journalism to navigate the emergence of transformative AI.

Endorsements support Tarbell Center for AI Journalism.

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