About the Initiative

Plans that experts can test and leaders can use

Species-level problems are often treated as too large or too political to plan for outside government. The Initiative has AI models draft a plan for each one from current research and data, and subject-matter experts then decide what holds up, so that members can take the result to the citizens and leaders able to act on it.

How a plan is made

Drafted with AI, tested by experts

A plan starts as a draft written with increasingly capable AI models from published research and current data, with every figure linked to its source. Subject-matter experts then review it and propose changes, and members take the revised plan to the citizens and leaders who can act on it.

Versions and updates

Every plan is dated

Each plan shows its version number and the month it was last updated; the first versions are current as of September 2026. A new version follows expert review or events that change the plan, and earlier versions stay available to download. If you find an error or a better source, write to us through the contact page.

Who runs it

Run by its members

The Initiative is run by its members: the people who check the plans, add evidence, consult with experts and carry the results to those who can act on them. Members vote on the Initiative's policy, procedure and spending.

A small group of founders, the same people who founded the Emergent Frontiers Institute, handles administration and keeps the records, and holds no authority beyond what the membership grants it. Everything the Initiative does is open to view, and every member has an equal say. The Initiative is part of the Emergent Frontiers Institute, and members are welcome to join the Institute as well, to take part and vote in its wider work.

Membership is free, and everyone is currently a volunteer. The Initiative is funded by voluntary contributions and grants.

Non-human intelligence

A low-probability, high-impact case

If non-human intelligence were confirmed, parts of the analysis in the other plans would change, yet few people are working through what that would mean in practice. The NHI essays report each claim with who makes it and how many sources agree, and trace what would follow if it proved true. Read the NHI analysis.

How to join

What happens when you join

  1. Ask to join. Use the join form: your name, your email, and a line about your background and which plans interest you.
  2. Set your password. Requests are usually approved within a day or two, and you then receive an email with a link to set your password.
  3. Take the tour. Your first sign-in starts a guided tour of the collaboration platform.
  4. Talk to the onboarding team. Within a day or two a member of the onboarding team schedules a voice call with you on the platform, at a date and time that suits you.

Membership is free. You can join a project straight away, and you have full access after 60 days.

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