Hannes Whittingham

Hannes Whittingham was a scientist at AstraZeneca, applying machine learning to drug discovery. He had a good job, a good salary, and a clear path in front of him.

But as he watched AI progress accelerate, something shifted. The safety questions weren’t keeping up with the technology.

So he quit. Got on a bicycle and rode from Cambridge to Istanbul over four months.

When he came back, breaking into AI safety was harder than he expected. He applied for things he wasn’t ready for. He didn’t know the ecosystem or the right people. It took programmes like MARS and LASR to find his footing. From there he went from research manager to CEO of Meridian.

In this video, he talks about his path into AI safety, what keeps him going, and why community matters.

‘I’ve come into contact with people who think about the world the same way I do. They want to fight for a better future.’