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About Us
Welcome to AiXist's About Us page, where you can learn more about our consortium and our approach to address the existential risks posed by artificial intelligence (AI) development.
Mission

At AiXist, our mission is to unite a broad spectrum of experts, organisations, and stakeholders to collectively tackle the existential risks posed by AI development and its convergence with advanced weapon systems, specifically nuclear, biological, and autonomous weapons.

Vision

We envision a world where humanity harnesses AI for positive purposes, ensuring that these technologies contribute to global stability rather than undermine it or at worst, contribute to our extinction.

  • Objectives
  • Research and Analysis

Identifying, compiling and organising current research on the implications of AI in nuclear, biological and autonomous weapons, including potential risks and vulnerabilities.

  • Policy Advocacy

Engage with governments, international bodies, and stakeholders to advocate for responsible AI development and the establishment of robust arms control mechanisms.

  • Education and Awareness

Raise global awareness about AI-related existential risks through public webinars, workshops, and knowledge dissemination.

  • Stakeholder Engagement

Establish a network of experts, policymakers, academics, and organisations to facilitate collaboration, information sharing, and the development of risk mitigation strategies.

  • Global Treaty Initiative

Work diligently to achieve a comprehensive international treaty that addresses the responsible development and use of AI in nuclear, biological and autonomous weapons

  • Values
  • Responsibility

We believe in the responsible development and use of AI to minimise risks and maximise benefits for humanity.

  • Collaboration

We prioritise collaboration and cooperation among diverse stakeholders to address complex challenges.

  • Transparency

We are committed to transparency in our actions, decisions, and communications.

  • Ethical Considerations

We uphold ethical principles and strive to promote AI development that promotes the dignity and welfare of the planet and its people.

Understanding the Risks: Why AiXist Exists

AiXist was founded on the recognition of the existential risks posed by AI development, particularly in the context of nuclear, biological, and autonomous weapons. As AI technologies continue to advance, so too do the associated threats, including accidental launches, unintended escalations, and ethical dilemmas. Our consortium aims to collaborate, educate and advocate towards achieving a global treaty mitigating AI & existential risks.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or inquiries about AiXist, please do not hesitate to contact us at: info@aixist.org

We welcome collaboration, feedback, and engagement from individuals and organisations committed to our mission.

Thank you for your interest in AiXist. Together, we can build a more resilient and secure world in the face of AI advancements.

About
Our Work
Join Us
Focus Areas

Privacy Policy 

Copyright – ©2024

About
Our Work
Join Us

Privacy Policy 

Copyright – ©2024

Emad is a Co-Founder and Director at AiXist. He works at the intersection of international security, diplomacy and existential risk and is also a Director at the Middle East Treaty Organization (METO), which seeks to advance peace, security and stability through innovative policy, advocacy and educational programs. He is the co-author of Weapons of Mass Destruction: A new approach to non-proliferation, published by Routledge. He is also a senior advisor to the Berkeley-based innovation lab, Goodly Labs, where he provides strategic advice in policy formulation, fusing technology and social science research to identify and mitigate the spread of misinformation.

Formerly, he was a researcher on nuclear nonproliferation and geopolitics for Princeton University’s Program on Science and Global Security (SGS), based in the School of Public and International Affairs. He was also an associate at Columbia University’s Center for International Conflict Resolution (CICR). Emad also served as executive director of the American Iranian Council (AIC), a nonprofit and nonpartisan educational organization that focuses on US-Iran relations. 

Kolfinna is a Co-Founder and Director at AiXist. Furthermore, she is a Senior Adviser at the Icelandic Centre for Research, a founding member of the Global Youth Security Council (GYSC) and a One Young World Ambassador. She holds an MA in International Law and the Settlement of Disputes from the UN Mandated University for Peace in Costa Rica and a diploma in Global Leadership from the UPEACE Centre for Executive Education. She also holds a Mag. Jur. and BA in Law from the University of Iceland, along with a diploma in Middle-Eastern Studies. Kolfinna was the first editor and founder of Helga Law Journal, the first Icelandic journal focused solely on International Law, and is a former board member of Young Professional Women in Iceland.

Paul is a Director at AiXist. He has several decades experience leading diverse and multicultural teams to impact decisions on existential threats, particularly nuclear war. He is Senior Research Associate and Academic Programme Manager at the University of Cambridge Centre for the Study of Existential Risk. He was the Executive Director of the transatlantic British American Security Information Council (BASIC) 2007-19, focusing on nuclear deterrence and disarmament issues in the US, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Since 2019 he has worked closely with the Swedish Foreign Ministry crafting the Stepping Stones Approach. The associated 16-nation Stockholm Initiative for Nuclear Disarmament has become a widely-acknowledged glimmer of hope for the NPT Review process.

Paul set up and ran the Trident Commission (2011-14) that considered Britain’s future nuclear weapon policy, and helped set up the Middle East Treaty Organisation in 2017. He has taught systems approaches at the Open University (1991-98) and later as part of the National School of Government’s flagship Top Management Programme (2007-12). He hosted a weekly TV talk show (2007-12) on state Iranian TV and connected with the highest levels of Ahmadinejad’s Iranian government, helping facilitate back-channel negotiations that contributed to the nuclear deal. He has also led several projects funded by the UK Foreign Office working on Middle East WMD diplomacy and nuclear responsibilities, working in areas previously deemed intractable but then receiving follow-on grants.

Georgii works at the intersection of AI, sustainability, and governance. At Normative, he develops AI systems to automate carbon accounting and help businesses reduce their environmental impacts.
At AiXist, he focuses on using AI to improve AI governance — exploring scalable mechanisms for oversight, risk monitoring, and institutional decision support.

He is an alumnus of the Impact Academy fellowship, where he worked on mitigating existential risks from future pandemics. Georgii holds master’s degrees in Environmental Management and Management Analytics, and is driven by a long-termist mission to ensure AI is aligned with the flourishing of all sentient life.

Alejandra is both a part of the fundraising and communications teams. She has a background in communications with over 10 years of experience turning ideas into action. She has previously forged impactful partnerships within global networks and driven strategic improvements in fast-growing organizations across multiple cultures and industries. Leading international communities in hospitality and social businesses, sustainable development programs at Raleigh International, managing investor relations at SAILCARGO and connecting with strategic partners as an entrepreneur.

Dr. Sharon Reyes is a researcher and AI governance expert working at the intersection of artificial intelligence, non-proliferation policy, and scientific security. Her work contributes to the advancement of global monitoring, verification, and compliance mechanisms that support the Chemical Weapons Convention’s mandate to prohibit chemical weapons and ensure their non-re-emergence.

With graduate qualifications combining scientific, legal, and technical governance competencies, Sharon uses her expertise in designing, evaluating, and operationalizing AI systems that strengthen verification regimes and enhance early-warning, risk-assessment, and analytical capabilities for international security institutions. With AIXist, Sharon develops AI architectures for high-stakes decision-making environments. She focuses on ensuring that AI technologies deployed in sensitive contexts are transparent, trustworthy, and verifiably compliant with international regulatory norms.

Sharon is the lead scientific researcher at AFRICSIS that integrates AI-driven methodologies with applied scientific analysis to enhance global chemical risk intelligence, environmental monitoring, and multi-domain security assessments. She is widely-regarded for her leadership in establishing rigorous evaluation protocols, AI verification methodologies, and ethical risk-governance models applicable to dual-use technologies.

Aron is a part of the partnerships and visualization teams. With a background in Mechanical Engineering, Aron is a researcher for the Alliance to Feed the Earth in Disasters (ALLFED), a non-profit research think tank in which he studies the impact of global catastrophic risks on food systems. One such risk being Nuclear War and the cascading consequences for society and civilization.

Cassandra is part of the research team. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree with a double major in Psychology and Philosophy at Erasmus University Rotterdam. Furthermore, she is a community builder at the Effective Altruism student group at the university and has lately been exploring potential underlying factors driving various crises such as existential risks, mental health problems, and climate change. Through the past three years, she has participated in and completed various literature reviews, observational studies, and experimental studies and believes research to be the first pillar of effective decision-making and change.

Christopher is a part of the research team. He is currently a Research Associate at the Odyssean Institute and specialises in applying Earth Observation and Geospatial data in urban environments. He holds a BSc. (hons) in Geography from the University of Edinburgh and a M.Sc. in Earth Observation from the Julius Maximilians Universität Würzburg.​​​ Christopher has previous experience working with data in the sustainable financial sector, humanitarian NGOs, and large national research centre.

Henrik is part of the fundraising team. He is currently pursuing a BSc in Business Informatics at the Cologne Business School and works as a Software Engineer. Politically, he is active in the Junge Union, the youth wing of the German Christian-Democrats, where he is mainly supporting the state organization‘s digital strategy.

Jasper is a part of the partnerships and communications teams. He is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Anthropology at the University of Sussex, where he also serves as Vice President of the Effective Altruism group. Jasper has experience in mixed-methods research from his independent project with Avitatrix Strategic Research Consultancy. His interests traverse political economy, emerging technologies, and policy-making.

Malina is a part of the research and communication teams. She is currently pursuing an International Master in Security, Intelligence, and Strategic Studies at the University of Glasgow, Dublin City University, and Charles University Prague. She completed her Bachelor’s in Management of International Social Challenges at the Erasmus University Rotterdam. Her interest in Existential Risks stems from her passion for the intersection between international security and emerging technology.

Natalia is a part of the fundraising team. She is finishing her Bachelor’s degree in Economics at Erasmus University Rotterdam, where she also teaches academic research courses. Natalia is actively involved in managing and growing an Effective Altruism (EA) student group on campus. Her interests span economic research, development history, AI governance and policy-making.

Ram is a part of the partnerships team. He has experience in nuclear winter research and advocacy, as well as EA community building. As a Nuclear Risk Research Fellow at the Cambridge Existential Risk Alliance, he produced a report that examined gaps in understanding nuclear winter scenarios, associated global trade impacts, and societal resilience. Relatedly, Ram has also contributed volunteer research assistance to ALLFED’s projects related to nuclear winter resilience. In collaboration with the Norwegian think tank Langsikt, he has worked on several policy briefs aimed at Norwegian ASRS preparedness. Ram is currently pursuing a BA in International Relations with French at the University of Sussex, where he is also a President and co-founder of the Effective Altruism group of the university.

Thomas Hickey is a  part of the research team. He is currently based in Utrecht in the Netherlands and has a background in both artificial intelligence (BSc) and philosophy (BA). He has been involved in the Dutch AI Safety community where he looked into the recursive self-improvement of AI, and was previously a research assistant for Darren McKee’s book Uncontrollable.

Yernur is a part of the partnerships team. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Economics and Econometrics at the University of Bologna. Previously, Yernur has worked on data analysis of carbon emissions. During his undergraduate years, he collaborated with an interdisciplinary team studying conflict dynamics. Yernur’s passion lies in applying chaos theory in various economic and social fields.

Zuza is a part of the fundraising team. She has a background in cognitive science and artificial intelligence from Tilburg University and TU Delft in the Netherlands. She holds professional experience in corporate sales, marketing, data analytics and community building. Currently, she’s focused on AI safety community building and exploring the applications of machine learning for better decision-making.

Dr. Alexander Herwix is a postdoctoral researcher at the Cologne Center for Information Systems (CIIS), and Senior Associate at AIXist. He also lectures on Ethical Issues in Information Systems at the University of Cologne, and holds a position at the Swedish Center for Digital Innovation (SCDI, University of Gothenburg).

Alexander’s research lies at the intersection of responsible innovation, sustainability, and education. His research strengthens CIIS’s work on the ethical and responsibility dimensions of the digital transformation.

With AIXist, Alexander contributes his expertise to shaping policy recommendations and research coordination.

Alexander’s doctoral thesis in Information Systems, “Toward a Responsible Design Science Research Ecosystem for the Digital Age: A Critical Pragmatist Perspective,” reflects his commitment to advancing responsible practices in the field.

With SCDI, Alexander fosters international collaboration and knowledge exchange. His diverse experience includes co-founding research-led transdisciplinary initiatives and supervising numerous undergraduate and graduate theses.