Coordination takes a team

Torchbearer Community launched in 2025 when a small, passionate, diverse group of people answered the call from Connor Leahy and Gabriel Alfour to form a global citizen-driven organization initially focused on advocating for legislation to address existential risks from advanced AI. Connor and Gabe have published papers on AI existential risk, supported AI safety initiatives, and presented technical concerns to industry and political leaders across the globe.

However, they saw a critical gap: legislators and policymakers need to hear from everyday citizens, not just technical experts. After all, AI risks affect everyone, and we all have a stake in ensuring its development serves humanity.

TBC represents the starting point of this work, with plans to expand to other urgent issues in the future.

Connor Leahy, UK

Co-Founder, Torchbearer Community and Torchbearer Project

Connor Leahy is the CEO of AI start-up Conjecture, working on solving the problems of AI control. He is a leading voice on AI risk mitigation, was one of the participants of the first ever AI Safety Summit, and is a frequent commentator on CNN, BBC and more. Connor previously headed and founded EleutherAI, an online organization for AI research that pioneered open source LLMs for research, including GPT-NeoX 20B and GPT-J.

"I founded TBC because I knew there were many good people across the globe, from all kinds of different backgrounds, that wanted to work together towards a better, humanist future, but there was no place for them to come together to do good work. So, I set out to create that place."

Gabriel Alfour, France and UK

Co-founder, Torchbearer Community and Torchbearer Project

Gabriel is a founder of several companies with a background in theoretical computer science, and has long been interested in understanding and tackling fundamental challenges of advancing and shaping technological progress. Right out of university, he developed a new programming language and founded a software consultancy. He later co-founded Conjecture with Connor, and helped Andrea found ControlAI.

"I wanted a community of people working to do good in line with my humanist values. I couldn't find any, so I decided to see if people would want to join one."

Others in our community

Andrea, UK

More info to come

Ben, Germany

"I joined TBC to connect with people who are driven by purpose, not prestige — those building things that matter and challenging how change happens."

Ben Balde is a German entrepreneur, AI consultant, and community builder passionate about civic innovation and digital transformation. As founder of GeoMesh, a startup modernizing public sector software, and an active participant in political lobbying efforts, he bridges technology, policy, and creativity to drive meaningful change.

Benjamin, Germany

"I joined TBC to work with a community that tries to approach AI risk with wisdom, humanistic values, and courage. To grow as a person and do real work toward a beautiful future."

Benjamin is a PhD student in Bioinformatics at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg with a Master in Computer Science and Co-lead of PauseAI Germany.

Bisesh, Australia

"I joined TBC out of concern for the impact of existing AI development on our social and economic structures."

Bisesh is a Research Assistant at the University of New South Wales and serves as the Editor for Issue 48(4) of the UNSW Law Journal, themed ‘Artificial Intelligence and the Law’.

David, Australia

"I joined TBC because this group is treating the threat from AI with the seriousness that it deserves and has a credible strategy to help the young people I teach avoid this threat."

David is an Australian maths teacher and director of mathematics in a public school for year 11s and 12s. He is grateful to be living in the future and wants his students to get to live there, too.

Julie, USA

"I joined because we can't wait one more minute; we need AI regulation now."

Attorney working at the intersection of AI & the law.

Kathleen, USA

"I joined TBC because unaccountable tech companies shouldn't be able to put humanity at risk from creations we didn't consent to and they can't control."

Kathleen is a marketing copywriter in the tech industry. She’s been helping raise awareness about AI risk since 2023.

Kevin, USA

"I joined Torchbearer because, as a father, I could not stand by while our ability to build powerful AI outpaced our wisdom to understand and control it. It is a privilege to contribute my technical background to this focused community of diverse and brilliant people as we work to secure a safe future for the next generation."

AI safety scout and advocate with a background in computer science and engineering.

Luke, UK

"So many of the problems we face are caused by a lack of coordination, and the threat of superintelligence is no different. I joined Torchbearer as it offers the hope of coordinating around core humanist values to tackle these problems."

Luke McNally is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Edinburgh, where he researches AI safety and develops AI applications to enhance student learning. Luke has also worked as a Resident Data Scientist at Nesta, where he developed prototypes of an AI powered evidence synthesis system for policy research.

Michael, USA

"I joined TBC to take action to address the existential risk posed by artificial superintelligence."

Michael lives in Austin Texas, where he is launching a marketing company. Michael enjoys listening to audiobooks and playing video games.

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