Former Intel CEO launches a benchmark to measure AI alignment

Following a distinguished four-decade career culminating as CEO of Intel, Pat Gelsinger has unveiled his significant next venture: a groundbreaking initiative aimed at ensuring artificial intelligence models are deeply aligned with fundamental human values. This crucial move marks a new chapter for Gelsinger, focusing on the ethical and societal impact of rapidly evolving AI technologies.

In a strategic partnership with Gloo, a ‘faith tech’ company he previously invested in, Gelsinger has launched the Flourishing AI (FAI) benchmark. This innovative framework is designed to rigorously test how effectively AI models resonate with core human principles. The FAI benchmark draws its foundational data from The Global Flourishing Study, a comprehensive survey on human well-being conducted by Harvard and Baylor University, providing a robust, empirically-backed basis for evaluation.

Gloo has meticulously adapted six pivotal categories from The Global Flourishing Study for the FAI benchmark: Character and Virtue, Close Social Relationships, Happiness and Life Satisfaction, Meaning and Purpose, Mental and Physical Health, and Financial and Material Stability. Significantly, Gloo has augmented these with an additional critical dimension: Faith and Spirituality, reflecting a holistic approach to human flourishing in the context of AI development.

Discussing his motivation, Gelsinger shared in an interview with The New Stack that he has ‘lived at the intersection of faith tech my entire life.’ This personal conviction underscores the depth of his commitment to guiding AI towards outcomes that genuinely serve and uplift humanity, rather than merely optimizing for performance or efficiency.

The introduction of the FAI benchmark by a figure of Gelsinger’s stature signals a growing imperative within the tech industry to prioritize AI alignment and ethical considerations. As AI tools continue to integrate into daily life, initiatives like FAI will be instrumental in shaping a future where technology amplifies human flourishing.