FLIP the
future of
intelligence

The
Flourishing
Intelligence
Program

In the race for Artificial Intelligence, the Flourishing Intelligence Program aims to FLIP the script by putting humanity and consciousness first.

Our research seeks to understand how we can leverage this unprecedented technological power to expand human flourishing.

We see the future of intelligence as a human-centred and symbiotic dynamical system composed of three layers: (1) the human, (2) the interface and (3) the AI.

A symbiotic dynamical system

THE HUMAN

1. The Human

While everyone starts with the machine, we start with the human. How can we expand human flourishing in the age of AI? How can we reverse engineer the brain's extraordinary capacities? What can wisdom traditions teach us about how to build safe superintelligence? Just as neural networks inspired modern AI architectures, we believe that the human body and mind hold further untapped innovations, unlocking intelligence, adaptability, evolution, flourishing, and maybe even consciousness itself. By conducting multiscale and cross-substrate research at the intersection of neuroscience, computation, physics, consciousness and contemplative wisdom, we aim to understand the full spectrum of human experience, enabling safer and more efficient technologies.

THE INTERFACE

2. The Interface

Current human-machine interfaces rely primarily on language and chatbots. Our approach is different. Just as our bodies seamlessly connect us with the world, each other, and nature, we aim to develop new holistic, embodied interfaces that leverage our innate and effortless communication channels, creating more organic and human-centred connections with AI. Our research also tackles the most overlooked bottleneck in brain-computer interfaces: the signal-to-noise ratio of our brains. Human experience is filled with noise, including thoughts and distractions that can mask our true intentions. Research shows that meditation may hold the solution to this problem, by stabilizing attention, reducing mind-wandering, and sharpening sensory and interoceptive perception.

THE AI

3. The Artificial Intelligence

The human brain needs ~20 W of power (similar to a dim light bulb) compared to state-of-the-art AI that consumes megawatts and achieves less. Our research aims to reverse-engineer the brain's remarkable computational efficiency, highly distributed architecture and capacity for compression across multiple scales. By doing so, we can unlock biomimetic AI architectures that use dramatically less power yet achieve greater intelligence. Yet our goal is not just efficiency, but alignment with human flourishing. Inspired by the human brain and ancient contemplative traditions, we aim to move beyond superficial rules and towards self-reinforcing alignment solutions that cultivate intrinsic wisdom and compassion.

Our
Centre

Learn more about our team

The Flourishing Intelligence Program is part of the Centre for Eudaimonia and Human Flourishing, Linacre College, University of Oxford.

Funded by a generous donation from the Cillo family, this innovative research program is led by Dr. Ruben Laukkonen, in collaboration with Prof. Morten Kringelbach.

This initiative is part of the International Centre for Flourishing, which includes the Computational Neuroscience Group led by Prof. Gustavo Deco at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain, and The Center for Music in the Brain, led by Prof. Peter Vuust, Aarhus University, Denmark.

We are an interdisciplinary team of scientists spanning neuroscience, physics, computer science, philosophy, and contemplative practice, working to answer one of the most pressing questions of our time: how can humanity flourish in the age of Artificial Intelligence?

FLIP the
future of
intelligence

FLIP the
future of
intelligence

The
Flourishing
Intelligence
Program

A symbiotic dynamical system

1. The Human

2. The Interface

3. The Artificial Intelligence

Our
Centre

Learn more about our team

Be part of the FLIP

Collaborate
with us

Receive
updates on news and events

Follow us on
Social Media

FLIP the future of intelligence

FLIP the future of intelligence

The Flourishing Intelligence Program

A symbiotic dynamical system

1. The Human

2. The Interface

3. The Artificial Intelligence

Our Centre

Learn more about our team

Be part of the FLIP

Collaborate with us

Receive updates on news and events

Follow us on Social Media

FLIP the
future of
intelligence

FLIP the
future of
intelligence

The
Flourishing
Intelligence
Program

Our
Centre

Collaborate
with us

Receive
updates on news and events

Follow us on
Social Media