Project summary

Bonsai’s firm belief is that humans irresponsibly or adversarially using AI technologies is one of the top risks for continued global peace and security in the coming years. Further that talent, resources, and motivations in AI are globally distributed under a wide variety of different regions and governmental structures. Consequently, it is only with comprehensive cooperation at the international level that a lasting and effective regulatory framework can be established.

To this end Bonsai works to establish multilateral cooperation, education, and regulation systems between international organizations, national governments, and the private sector.

Bonsai has an established legal structure as a non-profit corporation, board of distinguished advisors and directors, and volunteer staff. For it's next phase of development, Bonsai plans to develop an on the ground organization to begin convening conferences and developing educational materials to enhance its income generating capability.

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

Bonsai’s flagship objective is the establishment and maintenance of a global accord, akin to the Geneva Convention, regarding the development and use of AI technologies. In this way, as progress along the more fundamental research initiatives of the AI research and AI Safety community incrementally bear fruit, there will be a viable compliance and enforcement framework in place to make sure that the global administrative apparatus has a means of applying the newfound understanding. Further by mitigating irresponsible and unsafe use of AI systems, we hope to reduce the chance that humans irresponsibly deploy primitive yet dangerous AI systems- even while such systems continue to fall short of the sophistication most frequently feared in the broader AI safety community.

To that end, we believe it is essential to massively increase the degree and sophistication of dialog around the implications of AI on global security at international organizations. We will begin developing our New York area community by hosting a series of conferences adjunct to the UN Security Council (UNSC) - and other relevant for a, such as the Global Digital Compact initiative, etc. - and events hosted by the G20. In parallel, we will work in coordination with the several educational material companies and software providers we have initiated conversations with to develop a comprehensive curriculum leading to a certification program targeted to the needs and competencies of policymakers, diplomats, and analysts working along the periphery of the relevant international organizations.

We will develop both of these initiatives to the point that they can serve an income-generating capacity. This will allow us both to reduce our dependency on philanthropic support, as well as to allow us to further extend our capacities into more direct initiatives, such as the commissioning of novel research and educational reports, formal certification programs, and direct advocacy both to international treaty organizations as well as national and private sector entities. Having finally established this set of relationships and competencies, we expect that we will be well positioned to make a serious push toward shepherding a new accord through the international legal community.

How will this funding be used?

The first $100k USD we expect will largely be needed to establish the basis of our public profile, including a single inaugural conference along with associated marketing activities, administrative support, and financial support in seeking further philanthropic contributions (including travel, marketing, and administrative costs). The primary expenditures will be in marketing, pay for a member of administrative staff, and the costs of conference organization.

Past $200k USD, we expect that we will be able to, with significant volunteer effort and pro-bono technology contributions, begin to co-convene with several other adjacent NGOs and finish developing the framework of our earliest educational product offerings. The cost breakdown will be similar but expanded vs the 100k level, with an estimated 50-75k going toward the creation of educational materials.

Beyond $500k USD we will be able to invest significantly in developing practical advisory and consultancy capacity, as well as maintain a regular roster of conferences, small group discussions, and working groups in the G20 and UN ecosystems. At this level we expect to begin to make a material dent in our philanthropy-dependency. We will be able to hire one or two facilitation professionals, as well as provide a small salary for the members of our executive team.

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

• We have been able to establish early dialogs towards institutional and programmatic partnerships & cooperation agreements with several key organizations, including notably several in the broader Open Philanthropy portfolio, Google, CSET at Georgetown University, Vector Institute for AI, MILA and Sana Labs, UN SG Envoy on Tech, Toronto Global, etc.

• Bonsai has already established a distinguished, credible and highly intern. board of directors, spanning past and present senior business executives, government ministers, politicians including a former Ugandan Prime Minister, leaders in technology/AI, higher ed, & leading global tech advocacy organizations (a full list of our board members is available on the Bonsai website).

• Our CEO Paul brings a long career in and around the broader inter. multilateral policy & co-op domains. For several years he was Chief UN Representative and head of Gov. relations for the largest global dev./policy/advocacy NGOs, World Vision Int.,in which capacity he worked closely with all UN organs & its specialized agencies. Subsequently he completed several major development and education initiatives through senior roles at the New York Academy of Sciences & CMMB. While at NYAS, he interfaced technology in major education and STEM global initiatives, as well as, in partnership with Sana Labs, an AI company, he structured & spearheaded implementation of a transformational AI-powered online capacitation and skilling program to increase the number of nurses with skills in infectious diseases+Covid at the largest NYC health system, Mt Sinai. Then, helped expand the program in over 800 health systems in the developing world + corps such as United Airlines.

• Our CTO Micah is deeply embedded in the broader technology and AI ecosystem, having previously founded two AI research and financial technology related startups.

• Our special advisors in data analytics and AI governance, Brennan and Carlos, have led the AI teams of HSBC & BNY Mellon respectively. Furthermore, Carlos recently advised the government of Brazil on matters of data sovereignty, and Brennan gave a keynote at IT Security Insights 2024 conference in Stockholm, Sweden.

• Presently, Bonsai is engaging the Brazilian gov on its chairmanship of G20 this year, influencing the agenda of the Summit and planning to co-convene with the Brazilian government at UNGA in Sep and G20 Summit in November. In parallel, we are collaborating with the T20 stakeholder network to shape and influence the G20 agenda and work towards “inclusive digital frameworks,” inc. AI and digital sovereignty questions.

• Furthermore, (1) Bonsai is preparing to publish an article in Forbes about Bonsai’s mandate and our emphases on “peaceable AI” and “peace-loving policymakers and technologists,” in conversation with Forbes’ columnist, Mark Minevich; (2) Bonsai’s CEO and Board Member, Prime Minister Dr. Rugunda, will be video interviewed by IC Publications, to be published in March/April of 2024 in the company’s flagship magazines “African Business” and “New African.”

Profiles of our team and Board:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-mikov-9042555a/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmcclimans/

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruhakana_Rugunda

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauricio_Santa_Mar%C3%ADa_Salamanca

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_B._Lawrence

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-friedman-662b005/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/ada-nduka-oyom/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/seshmurthy/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/neilwong/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/christyconner/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/geannina-dinarte-romero-005941114/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/geannina-dinarte-romero-005941114/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/tijanadamjanovicgertner/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/yusuf-mugaloglu-phd-7a7917a7/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/benedicteyenyi/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/brennanlodge/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlos-de-oliveira-b90a9212b/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgkell/

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/minevichm/

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

Perhaps the most significant outcome would be in the fact that the nexus between AI and international peace and security would remain unattended and without adequate attention within the broader "AI governance" ecosystem. Bonsai is among the very FEW voices at these intersections. And in the light of the growing geopolitical polarization, failing to fill this gap and engage these issues would be of potential catastrophic if not even existential consequence for the world.

What other funding are you or your project getting?

So far, we have been funded by generous "services in kind" and team contributions in the form of bootstrap investment work hundreds of thousands of dollars this past year. Furthermore, we have a pledge from a major foundation, two ETF funds, and a major individual donor. We have a number of applications submitted to other potential donors already, and are in negotiations with one government for possible upskilling work Bonsai would provide to the gov's ministries on a fee for services basis.