Sentient Futures

In July 2025, the 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗿-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝗜 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝗻𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗲 was published: the EU AI Act’s Code of Practice.

📣 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 (𝗦𝗙𝗦) 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 (May 22nd-24th)! Apply here: bit.ly/londonspeaker We are seeking leading thinkers who can explore how AI and other advanced technologies might shape the future for animals and artificial minds. If you’re doing research or have an interesting project in this field, we invite you to apply to give a talk, facilitate a workshop, or run a stand at our organization fair. Speakers and workshop facilitators will receive a complimentary ticket. You can also use this submission form to suggest other speakers or content you think would be valuable! Applications are open as well for volunteers and scholarships! All application forms can be found through the link in our bio. 𝗦𝗙𝗦 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: 📌 Conference: Friday 22nd May | UCL South Quad Pop Up 📌 Unconference: 23rd-24th May Weekend | AIM Office, Spitalfields

𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗱’𝘀 𝗸𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 from Sentient Futures Summit Bay Area is out now on our YouTube Channel! Check it out here: bit.ly/sfslewbo In the fireside chat, Lewis, who oversees farm animal welfare funding at Coefficient Giving (formerly Open Philanthropy), sits down with Stien Van der Ploeg, Executive Director of Animal Charity Evaluators, to tackle one of the most pressing questions facing the movement today: 👉 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗜? Lewis shares how his thinking has evolved as AI timelines have accelerated, which interventions he sees as most robust across uncertain futures, and where he thinks animal advocates should be placing their bets right now.

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗲 🚀 Join us the weekend of 22-24th May! Use the link below to: 🐣 Get 30% off the Friday Conference before April 1st. ✍️ Apply to attend the Weekend Unconference. SFS London will include:   • A range of talks, workshops and discussions with thinkers from across the fields of animal ethics and advocacy, AI safety, and artificial sentience.   • Opportunities to network with potential collaborators and funders in a focused and intimate setting.   • Deep, interdisciplinary conversations on future oriented solutions that reduce non-human suffering. 💥 You can also attend EAG London the weekend after to score a networking combo. 👁️ Keep an eye out as we add satellite events to the agenda (including an EAG Afterparty). Let’s build a better future for sentient non-humans together! sentientfutures.ai/sfslondon2026

Save the date! 🚀 We are excited to announce that 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 (𝗦𝗙𝗦) 𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, taking place the weekend of 𝟮𝟮-𝟮𝟰𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝘆! Add a reminder to your calendar here: sentientfutures.ai/sfslondon2026 SFS London will follow a similar structure to last year’s AIADM London:   • A larger Friday conference featuring talks, workshops and meet-ups with thinkers from across the fields of animal welfare, AI safety, and AI welfare.   • A smaller focussed unconference on Saturday and Sunday, with attendee-organised sessions. As is now tradition, we are pairing this event with EAG London (29-31st May) – so you can score a networking combo 💥 We’ll be sharing more information including registration details soon. Stay tuned!

For more info on this reasoning, see meditationsondigitalminds.substack.com/p/digital-mind…

Disclaimer: We would really not like to start a culture war as we think that is usually unhelpful for open discourse. AI sentience/personhood is a topic surrounded by great uncertainty and our aim at this stage is to build a field of rigorous (and ambitious) thinkers and tinkerers who care about creating a better future for all sentient beings.

Decently accurate description of our conference as a place for "people worried about the inner lives of chatbots and chickens"

𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗱! Here's just some of the talks we're excited for:   • Stien Van der Ploeg on how AI is reshaping farmed animal welfare advocacy   • Cameron Berg on comparing frontier AI to animal minds to study machine consciousness   • Ria Viswanathan on the overlap and tension between animal welfare and digital minds   • @begusgasper on vowel-like structures in sperm whale communication   • Bob Fischer on ethical oversight for AI research   • Derek Shiller on challenges for evaluating the moral status of AI systems 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 📅 February 6-8, 2026 📍 San Francisco

We're excited to announce that @PeterSinger will be joining us for a virtual fireside chat at 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 (𝗙𝗲𝗯 𝟲-𝟴𝘁𝗵)! In conversation with Robin Larson from @AnthropicAI, Peter will explore:   • What moral circle expansion looks like in the face of AGI.   • How we should weigh uncertainty about sentience when making ethical decisions.   • What the future could mean for how we think about non-humans. 📅 February 6-8, 2026 📍 San Francisco 👉𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: bit.ly/SFSBayArea2026

📣 𝗪𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 (𝗙𝗲𝗯 𝟲-𝟴𝘁𝗵)! Join us in bringing SFS to life next month! Volunteering offers some great perks. You:   • Get a free ticket to the event   • Have two thirds of the conference free to attend sessions and connect with fellow attendees.   • Play a meaningful role in making the event a success. 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝘄: bit.ly/sfsvolunteer26 📅 February 6-8, 2026 📍 San Francisco

🎤 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁: Fireside Chat with Lewis Bollard We're thrilled to unveil the keynote session for 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮! Join us for an in-depth fireside chat with Lewis Bollard, who oversees farmed animal welfare funding at Coefficient Giving (formerly Open Philanthropy). In conversation with Stien Van der Ploeg, Executive Director of Animal Charity Evaluators, Lewis will explore:   • What AI could mean for animals.   • How his views have evolved in light of recent developments in the field.   • What these developments mean for animal advocates. 📅 February 6-8, 2026 📍 San Francisco Join us there! Register now: bit.ly/SFSBay2026

🚨 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱: 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗯𝘆 𝗝𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟮𝟱 🚨 We're extending applications for the Sentient Futures Project Incubator - an 8-week mentorship program to build high-impact projects for future sentient beings. Work with an experienced mentor (late Feb - late Apr 2026) to create real outputs: research reports, policy memos, prototypes, field-building initiatives, or a detailed project plan with clear next steps - potentially including a funding proposal. Propose your own idea or join a mentor-led project. 𝗪𝗲'𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝟰𝟬+ 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 with deep expertise across our focus areas - check out the full list via the link below. Focus areas: 🤖 AI & animals 🧠 Artificial sentience 🌌 Post-AGI futures 📊 Long-term strategy ✨ Any project that helps future sentient beings ⏱️ ~5 hours/week | 🌍 Fully remote | 📅 Apply by Jan 25 👉 Learn more and apply: sentientfutures.ai/projectincubat…

We are delighted to announce Raphaëlle Martinez 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗲𝗯 𝟲-𝟴𝘁𝗵! Raphaëlle is the Director of Digital Mobilization at the International Council for Animal Welfare (ICAW), where she leads campaigns to fight farmed animal cruelty across the globe. She founded one of France’s first digital communications agencies, led corporate campaigns with L214, hosted debates at the European Parliament, and worked on international communications strategy and operations at TikTok before moving to the U.S. to join ICAW. She’ll speak about how ICAW rapidly built an online advocacy network in just 1 month. 👉 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: bit.ly/SFSBay2026 𝗦𝗙𝗦 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: 📅 February 6th-8th 2026 (Weekend before EA Global) 🏢 Mox, San Francisco

We are delighted to announce David Meyer 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗲𝗯 𝟲-𝟴𝘁𝗵! David’s three-decade career in advocacy has encompassed work for companion animals, farmed animals, and now work in the alternative protein sector. He is the Co-Founder and President of Food System Innovations and Humane America Animal Foundation, and was Co-Founder and CEO of @AdoptaPetcom . 👉 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: bit.ly/SFSBay2026 𝗦𝗙𝗦 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: 📅 February 6th-8th 2026 (Weekend before EA Global) 🏢 Mox, San Francisco

We are delighted to announce Yaqi Grover 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗲𝗯 𝟲-𝟴𝘁𝗵! Yaqi is a venture capital partner, investing in early-stage food and agritech companies advancing a more sustainable and humane food system. She has founded several food companies and works at the intersection of entrepreneurship, investing, and animal welfare. Previously, Yaqi worked at Morgan Stanley and Citigroup in structured finance and trading. She holds an MBA from Stanford GSB and is a CFA charterholder. 👉𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: sentientfutures.ai/sfsbay2026 𝗦𝗙𝗦 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: 📅 February 6th-8th 2026 (Weekend before EA Global) 🏢 Mox, San Francisco

We are delighted to announce that @David_Gunkel will be speaking at 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, taking place 𝗙𝗲𝗯 𝟲-𝟴𝘁𝗵! David is an award-winning educator, researcher, and author, specializing in the moral and legal challenges of artificial intelligence and robots. He is the author of over 115 scholarly articles and has published eighteen books, including The Machine Question (MIT Press 2012), Robot Rights (MIT Press 2018), and Person, Thing, Robot (MIT Press 2023). He currently holds the position of Distinguished Research Professor at Northern Illinois University. David’s talk will consider how AI and LLMs may require a radically new approach to our concepts of legal and moral status. 👉 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: bit.ly/SFSBay2026 𝗦𝗙𝗦 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: 📅 February 6th-8th 2026 (Weekend before EA Global) 🏢 Mox, San Francisco

We are delighted to announce @Lewis_Bollard 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗴𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝗲𝗯 𝟲-𝟴𝘁𝗵! Lewis oversees all funding directed towards farmed animal welfare at @coeff_giving (formerly Open Philanthropy), driving efforts to end factory farming and improve the lives of animals confined on factory farms. Thanks to these efforts, thousands of food companies have committed to go cage-free and adopt stronger welfare standards. 👉 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲: bit.ly/SFSBay2026 𝗦𝗙𝗦 𝗕𝗮𝘆 𝗔𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: 📅 February 6th-8th 2026 (Weekend before EA Global) 🏢 Mox, San Francisco