Lifeboat Foundation

The Lifeboat Foundation is a nonprofit organization in Reno, Nevada, dedicated to the prevention of global catastrophic risk.[1] Technology journalist Ashlee Vance describes Lifeboat as "a nonprofit that seeks to protect people from some seriously catastrophic technology-related events".[2]

Lifeboat Foundation
FounderEric Klien
TypeNonprofit organization
PurposePrevention of existential risk
Location
Websitewww.lifeboat.com

Organization

Lifeboat was founded by online dating service entrepreneur[3] Eric Klien, who continues to run Lifeboat as president and chairman of the board of directors.[4] Lifeboat is run out of Klien's home in Minden, Nevada, a suburb of Reno. The organization has raised over $500,000 in total donations from individuals and corporate matching funds programs, most of which went to "supporting conferences and publishing papers".[5] Writer and advisory board member Sonia Arrison describes the group as "basically a Web site that raises money for various things".[2]

In 2007, the Lifeboat Foundation absorbed an organization called the "Alliance to Rescue Civilization", which aimed to establish a disaster-proof record of human civilization on the Moon.[6]

Lifeboat has tried to raise more money by accepting donations in Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency. According to Fast Company, Lifeboat raised $72,000 in Bitcoin donations and pledges, and sought to use Bitcoin to protect itself against events such as the 2012–13 Cypriot financial crisis.[7]

The Board of Directors includes Eric Klien, Carl Martinez, Philippe van Nedervelde, Chris K. Haley, Sergio Tarrero.[8]

Activities

According to Fast Company, Lifeboat runs a number of "programs" to protect Earth against threats such as an asteroid impact, grey goo from molecular nanotechnology, and unfriendly artificial general intelligence.[9] Lifeboat maintains a list of "dozens and dozens" of catastrophic threats - including the eventual burnout of the Sun - divided into four main categories of "calamities", "collapse", "dominium", and "betrayal".[10] Journalist Ashlee Vance notes that it's "unclear how far along any of these projects is".[5]

The Lifeboat Foundation also publishes books, such as Visions of the Future,[11] an anthology of futurist and science fiction writing reviewed in the Financial Times.[12]

References
  1. Bilton, Nick (May 20, 2015). "Ava of 'Ex Machina' Is Just Sci-Fi (for Now)". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  2. Vance, Ashlee (July 20, 2010). "The Lifeboat Foundation: Battling Asteroids, Nanobots and A.I." The New York Times. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  3. Rainey, Sarah (February 11, 2015). "This 'King of Love' runs the world's largest dating agency". Business Insider. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  4. Klien, Eric. "Eric Klien". Lifeboat Foundation. Lifeboat Foundation. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  5. Vance, Ashlee (December 15, 2011). "Guardians of the Apocalypse". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  6. Burrows, William E. (February 2, 2007). "Colonize the Moon". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  7. Ungerleider, Neal (April 2, 2013). "Funding A Non-Profit With... Bitcoins?". Fast Company. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  8. "Board of Directors". Lifeboat Foundation. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  9. Ungerleider, Neal (November 29, 2011). "How Stephen Wolfram Is Preparing For The Singularity". Fast Company. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  10. Brin, David (June 17, 2012). "How will the world end?". Salon. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  11. Bentham, Harry J. (March 31, 2016). "Book Review: Visions of the Future (2015)". H+ Magazine. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
  12. Cave, Stephen (January 8, 2016). "Is predicting the future futile or necessary?". Financial Times. Retrieved 5 April 2016.
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