AI Safety Fiction
Collective
Shaping the future of AI safety, one story at a time
"The solutions to humanity's most pressing AI alignment, safety and security challenges might first appear in science fiction. Through narrative, we explore what mathematical proofs and code reviews cannot – the messy, human elements that resist quantification."
Beyond Prediction
From Arthur C. Clarke's communication satellites to Asimov's "robotics", science fiction has a remarkable track record. But its true power lies in exploring fundamental questions about scientific responsibility and the consequences of creation – questions that echo with renewed urgency in the age of AI.
Building Bridges
Science fiction serves as an accessible entry point to complex AI safety concepts. Through compelling narratives, we can attract fresh minds from diverse backgrounds – philosophers, ethicists, psychologists, and social scientists whose perspectives could prove invaluable to the AI safety challenge.
Beyond Code
When you craft a story about an AI system, you can't hide behind abstract utility functions. Through narrative, we can explore complex concepts like value learning, robustness, and corrigibility in ways that resonate with both researchers and the public.
Imagining Tomorrow
The future of AI safety might spring from the pages of stories that dare to imagine not just what AI could do, but what it could be. In blending rigorous technical understanding with imaginative exploration, we might find solutions that neither approach could discover alone.
Our Initiatives
Founding Members
Alyssia J
Alyssia J is an independent AI researcher and the founder of the AI Safety Fiction Writing Intensive, where she designed and taught a curriculum to explore AI safety through narrative. She has contributed to AI teams at Google and Microsoft and led Team Canada to a top-three finish at the International Quant Championships. Currently, she conducts benchmarking and evaluation work for various entities, including the UK AI Security Institute, bridging technical research with creative exploration to inspire innovative AI safety solutions.
Jenny Williams
Jenny Williams is the author of The Atlas of Forgotten Places (St. Martin's Press) and "A Short Future History of Whales", a novelette about AI catastrophe (Analog Science Fiction and Fact). She holds an MFA in fiction from Brooklyn College and has spent more than 8 years in big tech at Microsoft and Google, including 6 years in inclusive design and AI ethics.
Dea Lim
As of this instance in the timeline, Dea (she/they) is a short story writer for sci-fi and fantasy, with a penchant for tech frontiers. Previously immersed in narrative design for web3 projects, they were planning a creative writing career when ChatGPT dropped—and realized that sci-fi was rapidly being reclaimed. Since then, Dea has pivoted to AIS governance, looking into post-AGI governance and AI futures, while co-founding and organizing the AIS group at the National University of Singapore.
Join Our Mission
We're currently looking to expand our initiatives and are seeking inaugural funding. We're also excited to announce our participation in Apart Research's upcoming hackathon!