Stop What Could Go Wrong and Build a Safer AI Future

Geoff Ralston, founder of SAIF (Safe Artificial Intelligence Fund), and former President of Y Combinator, shares his vision for building a safer AI future. Geoff discusses the risks and promise of AI as a force beyond traditional tools, posing AI as a set of entities that will reshape the way we work, live, and relate to each other. He talks about biosafety, interpretability, and misinformation as key focus areas for innovation. Geoff also shares advice for founders navigating this fast-evolving landscape and reflects on how thoughtful investment today can shape the future of humanity.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

[02:05] Why Geoff believes AI is not ‘just’ a tool but a cognitive force reshaping humanity
[06:29] The subtle but profound difference between tools and intelligent agents
[13:56] Who wins and who loses in an AI-driven future, and what roles must investors play?
[20:36] Can we still design a utopian future with AI?
[24:06] The types of founders Geoff wants to back through SAIF
[26:30] Why mission-aligned safety startups still need product-market fit
[28:46] What happens when AI does everything—and what humans will still choose to do

The nonprofit organization Geoff is passionate about: AI Venture Lab

About Geoff Ralston

Geoff Ralston is the founder of SAIF (Safe Artificial Intelligence Fund) and former President of Y Combinator. A longtime startup investor, entrepreneur, and thought leader, Geoff previously founded Imagine K12, an edtech accelerator later merged with YC. With decades of experience launching and scaling category-defining startups, Geoff now focuses on funding companies that ensure AI becomes a force for good, addressing challenges around safety, security, and the future of human work.

About SAIF

SAIF (Safe Artificial Intelligence Fund) is a venture capital firm dedicated to building a safer future with AI. Founded by Geoff Ralston, SAIF invests in startups focused on AI safety, biosafety, interpretability, and information integrity. The firm supports mission-driven founders creating scalable solutions to counteract risks and ensure that AI technologies empower rather than endanger society.

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