The Future Society
The Future Society
The Future Society is an international nonprofit founded in 2014 at Harvard Kennedy School that works on AI governance across the UN, OECD, EU, and G7. Known for convening 44+ civil society organizations on AI governance priorities, playing a key role at the 2025 Paris AI Action Summit, and producing research on responsible AI governance frameworks.
Quick Assessment
| Dimension | Assessment | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| International Reach | Very High | Active across UN, OECD, EU, G7; offices in Paris and Cambridge |
| Convening Power | High | Organized civil society participation at major AI summits, surveyed 44+ CSOs |
| Policy Influence | High | Direct engagement with international AI governance processes |
| Research Output | Moderate | More focused on convening and coalition-building than primary research |
| Civil Society Coordination | Very High | Leading coordinator of civil society input to international AI governance |
| Historical Depth | High | Founded 2014, one of the earlier AI governance organizations |
Organization Details
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2014 (at Harvard Kennedy School) |
| Location | Paris, France; Cambridge, MA |
| Structure | International nonprofit |
| Website | thefuturesociety.org |
| Focus Areas | International AI governance, civil society coordination, responsible AI frameworks, multi-stakeholder engagement |
Overview
The Future Society was founded in 2014 at Harvard Kennedy School as an initiative focused on the governance of emerging technologies, with artificial intelligence as its primary focus. The organization has since grown into one of the most internationally active AI governance bodies, maintaining a presence in both the United States (Cambridge, MA) and Europe (Paris), and engaging directly with the UN, OECD, EU, and G7 on AI policy.
The Future Society's distinctive contribution to the AI governance landscape is its role as a bridge between civil society, governments, and international organizations. Rather than primarily producing research or advocating for specific policies, the organization focuses on ensuring that diverse voices — including those from the Global South, civil society, and affected communities — are represented in international AI governance processes.
Key Contributions
Civil Society Coordination: In their most significant recent initiative, The Future Society surveyed 44 civil society organizations — including research institutes, think tanks, and advocacy groups — to identify and rank AI governance priorities. The resulting report synthesized views from across the civil society spectrum, finding broad agreement that legally binding measures with enforcement mechanisms should be a top priority.
Paris AI Action Summit (2025): The Future Society played a key role at the 2025 Paris AI Action Summit, organizing civil society participation and facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogue on international AI governance frameworks.
AI Governance Frameworks: The organization has produced research and policy recommendations on responsible AI governance, including work on AI risk assessment, governance mechanisms, and the role of international institutions in AI oversight.
Global South Engagement: The Future Society has been particularly active in ensuring that perspectives from developing countries are included in AI governance discussions, which are often dominated by US, EU, and Chinese voices.
International Engagement
The Future Society maintains formal and informal relationships with major international organizations working on AI governance:
- UN: Engagement with UN agencies on AI ethics and governance, including UNESCO's AI ethics recommendation
- OECD: Contributions to OECD AI policy frameworks and principles
- EU: Participation in EU AI Act consultations and related governance processes
- G7: Input to G7 discussions on AI governance and the Hiroshima AI Process
Key Dynamics
International coordination niche: The Future Society occupies a distinctive niche as a facilitator of international civil society engagement on AI governance, complementing the more research-focused work of GovAI and the more domestically-focused advocacy of organizations like AI Policy Institute.
Summit-driven influence: Much of The Future Society's impact comes through major international AI governance events — the AI Safety Summits, the Paris AI Action Summit, OECD convenings — where it helps shape the agenda and ensure civil society representation.
Complementarity with GPAI: While the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence is an intergovernmental body, The Future Society provides a civil society channel for input into similar governance discussions, sometimes working directly with GPAI processes.