Colby Thomson | Accelerating Scientific Research with Philanthropic Funding @ VW Puerto Rico 2026

Why It Matters

Strategic philanthropic funding can direct emerging science toward safety‑first outcomes, mitigating existential risks while delivering immediate societal value.

Key Takeaways

• Philanthropy can steer scientific research order, not just speed.
• Donors should fund projects with immediate robustness and ethical safeguards.
• Differential technological development emphasizes building protective systems first.
• Collaborative grant models bridge funding, expertise, and rapid deployment.
• Aligning wealthy donors with foresight communities accelerates defensive innovations.

Summary

Colby Thomson, former director of strategy at the Singularity Institute, addressed the audience at VW Puerto Rico 2026, arguing that philanthropic capital can do more than simply increase the pace of scientific work; it can shape the sequence in which breakthroughs are pursued to prioritize safety and societal resilience.

He highlighted the “differential technological development” framework, noting that half of early AI‑focused audiences wanted acceleration while the other half feared it, and argued that the real lever is deciding whether protective infrastructure is built before potentially fragile capabilities. Thomson urged donors to target organizations already demonstrating momentum, offering sizable, flexible grants that enable rapid prototyping of defensive technologies.

Illustrative anecdotes included a biotech founder contemplating the creation of a human‑immune‑system model and the associated risk of engineered super‑viruses, prompting her to consider halting fundraising. Thomson also cited his own initiatives—a communications satellite and biotech projects—that serve both practical utility and frontier‑risk assessment, demonstrating how grant‑making can generate immediate robustness while informing policy debates.

The message for the philanthropic community is clear: coordinated, foresight‑driven funding can steer emerging technologies toward safety‑first pathways, reducing existential risk and delivering tangible societal benefits. By embedding ethical review and protective priorities into the funding pipeline, wealthy donors can leverage their capital to shape a more secure technological future.

Original Description

This talk is part of Vision Weekend Puerto Rico 2026, a three-day gathering of researchers and builders in Old San Juan.

The program featured 30+ presentations, along with keynotes, lightning talks, office hours, and discussions focused on “AI for X” — exploring how AI is advancing fields like neurotech, biotech, energy, and beyond.

https://foresight.org/events/vision-weekend-puerto-rico-2026/

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