About Us

AI Safety Group @ UChicago XLab

The AI Safety Group @ UChicago XLab is a student group affiliated with the Existential Risk Laboratory, dedicated to education and research in AI safety — the crucial challenge of mitigating risks that arise from advanced AI and ensuring that it is developed in a way that benefits humanity. As AI becomes more capable, it becomes increasingly important to ensure that AI systems are aligned with human values, that bad actors cannot misuse AI for harmful ends, and that power does not become concentrated in the hands of a few. As AI systems are integrated into a growing number of critical domains and societal functions, misaligned AI could pose significant risks, ranging from unintended effects to potentially existential consequences. Our group aims to contribute to this vital field by:

• Providing rigorous education and fostering critical thought by exposing members to diverse perspectives on this transformative technology.
• Producing high-quality research and analysis that moves the needle on AI safety and builds the foundation for high-impact careers in the field.
• Cultivating a vibrant, supportive community that connects motivated students to the vital field of AI safety.

By fostering the next generation of AI researchers and ethicists, we strive to make a lasting impact on the future, working towards a world where advanced AI systems benefit all of humanity.

The Existential Risk Laboratory (XLab)

Founded in 2022 at the University of Chicago, the Existential Risk Laboratory (XLab) is an interdisciplinary research organization dedicated to the analysis and mitigation of risks that threaten human civilization's long-term survival. XLab focuses on critically under-addressed areas: AI safety, biorisk, nuclear security, and extreme climate change, recognizing the urgent need for more expertise and innovative thinking in these fields. Since these issues don't fit neatly into pre-existing academic silos, XLab was created to serve as a coordinating locus for work on existential and global catastrophic risk on the UChicago campus, bringing together scholars from across the academy. It supports direct research and provides a venue for students to build expertise in its focus areas.

Our members have worked with