Connor Leahy
Connor Leahy is an AI researcher and entrepreneur, currently CEO of Conjecture. He co-founded EleutherAI, a grassroots collective that created open-source large language models, and has become an outspoken advocate for AI safety and governance.
Career
EleutherAI
Leahy co-founded EleutherAI in 2020, originally to replicate GPT-3. The collective produced GPT-Neo, GPT-J, and GPT-NeoX, demonstrating that large language models could be developed outside major tech companies. This work contributed to the open-source AI movement.
Conjecture
Leahy founded Conjecture to focus on AI alignment research, particularly on developing practical tools for understanding and controlling AI systems. The company works on interpretability and alignment techniques.
AI Safety Advocacy
Leahy has become known for his urgent warnings about AI risks:
- Testified before the UK Parliament on AI risks
- Advocate for mandatory safety evaluations
- Calls for international coordination on AI governance
- Argues current safety measures are inadequate
Views
Leahy argues that AI development is proceeding too quickly relative to safety research. He advocates for:
- Slowing capability development
- Mandatory safety testing
- International treaties on AI
- More funding for alignment research