Yoshua Bengio is launching a nonprofit AI safety lab called LawZero to build safer AI systems. The announcement came via the Financial Times on Monday.
LawZero raised $30 million in donations. Key contributors include Skype founding engineer Jaan Tallinn, former Google chief Eric Schmidt, Open Philanthropy, and the Future of Life Institute. The name LawZero references the Zeroth Law of Robotics, which emphasizes protecting humanity above all.
Bengio, a pivotal figure in the modern AI landscape, has become a leading voice in the AI safety movement. He backed California’s SB 1047, a controversial bill aimed at preventing AI systems from causing harm. 
In his interview, Bengio expressed skepticism about OpenAI and Google prioritizing safety, criticizing their rush toward advanced AI systems.
"I have little faith in OpenAI and Google to prioritize safety as they race toward more intelligent AI systems."
— Yoshua Bengio
