About the Initiative
Who we are and why
This initiative began as a volunteer project, rooted in a shared commitment to build a bridge between AI development and Buddhist wisdom. We see ourselves as field builders: we lift up the voices of Buddhist teachers, scholars, and practitioners, and create pathways for those voices to shape how AI is made and used.
We are motivated by the transformative potential of AI, deep concern for the impact it is already having on the world, and a conviction that Buddhist philosophy and practice have a unique contribution to make toward guiding its development for the better. We are in the process of becoming a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Our Team
Who we are: four core team members with experience spanning AI safety, nonprofit leadership, contemplative scholarship, and Buddhist chaplaincy.
Chris Scammell
Co-Founder
Previously COO of Conjecture, an AI safety company that formed out of the open-source collective EleutherAI, known for training the first open-source LLMs. Chris has been studying Buddhism since 2016, and has spent over four years living in monasteries between London, Canada, and India.
Alex Sarkissian
Co-Founder
Buddhist chaplain, meditation teacher, and social entrepreneur. He holds a Master of Divinity in Buddhism from Columbia University's Union Theological Seminary, where his thesis assessed the potential impact of AI on the cultivation of virtue and human flourishing. Previously a founder and strategy consultant at Deloitte.
Peter D. Hershock, Ph.D.
Co-Founder and Intellectual Advisor
Intercultural philosopher and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the East-West Center in Honolulu. Author of more than fifty peer-reviewed papers and eight books, including Buddhism and Intelligent Technology: Toward a More Humane Future (2021) and Consciousness Mattering: A Buddhist Synthesis (2023).
Ryan Stagg
Co-Founder
Nonprofit leader with ten years of experience driving strategic growth in mission-driven organizations. Former Director of Digital Strategy at the Mind & Life Institute and Director of Business Development at Drala Mountain Center. MA in Contemplative Religious Studies from Naropa University.
Our Advisors
Teachers, scholars, and organizational leaders who guide our work with their experience in Buddhist practice, education, and technology.
Daniel Aitken
CEO & Publisher
Wisdom Publications
Roshi Joan Halifax
Founder & Abbot
Upaya Zen Center
Venerable Dr. Juewei
Associate Professor
Nan Tien Institute
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