Project summary

A student-run 1-day conference at the University of Tokyo introducing ~100 Japanese high school and university students to EA through 4 talks, workshops, and truth-seeking discussion. Endorsed by EA Japan.

What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?

Our primary goal is to introduce EA to young students in Japan and get them engaged with the community. EA Japan today is mostly seasoned professionals, with little youth presence.

We'll do this through a 1-day conference for ~100 students with talks on EA basics, AI safety, and animal welfare, closing with a panel and a networking session.

We'll measure success with a pre/post-event survey tracking changes in understanding, and follow up on subsequent EA engagement where we can.

Where we are right now

See our updated website!
https://philosiumtokyo2026.fumik.workers.dev

How will this funding be used?

Maximal budget: $2,421.38

University of Tokyo venue ($125.79)

vegan catered lunch ($943.40)

drinks/snacks ($251.57, hopefully partly in-kind)

name badges/printing ($125.79)

participant materials/souvenirs ($125.79)

speaker travel ($125.79)

speaker compensation ($503.14 — though many speakers are EA community members likely to volunteer)

10% contingency ($220.13).

If needed, our minimal budget of $1,452.83 covers just venue, lunch, badges, and speaker travel.

Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

Timofey Goshka

Niko Carter

Fumi Kimura

Philosium has run three prior events: a conference for ~450 students in Kleszczów, Poland; a Youth Philosophy Symposium at ELTE in Budapest with speakers including Prof. John D. Norton and a panel of Harvard, Princeton, and Carnegie Mellon students; and a workshop for high schoolers in Makarska, Croatia.

Fumi Kimura organized a talk by AI safety communicator and researcher bioshok at Shimokita College (a selective dorm for promising high school, university, and young working adults in Tokyo) this May. Students stayed for two hours afterward talking with him.

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

Funding shortfall: Even if none of our pending applications (EA Infrastructure Fund, Coefficient Giving, Non-Trivial) or this Manifund request come through in time, we plan to still hold an event (pay out-of-pocket and apply for reimbursement or significantly downscale or postpone) to discuss EA and its philosophical underpinnings.

Speaker cancellations/Failure to get speakers: Likely outcome would also be down-scaled discussions and presentations made by co-organizers on EA topics or postponement.

Yet postponement is difficult and unlikely, since Niko will be leaving Japan before the conference, Fumi will be leaving on 9/25, and Timofey will be leaving in January, since he is an exchange student.

What funding actually changes

Quality and representation: We want thought-provoking talks by real professionals in the EA-space and represent the EA community decently. (Also want people to try vegan food for the first time :).

Outreach: Cold outreach to new speakers and students may become easier, since grants signal outside validation

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

$0 raised so far for Philosium Tokyo.
3 applications pending: EA Infrastructure Fund, Coefficient Giving, and Non-Trivial. Haven't heard back from any yet, so posting here concurrently.

Please contact us if you have questions/concerns or want more information!