William MacAskill
FounderFounder at 80,000 Hours · Founder/President at The Centre for Effective Altruism
United Kingdom
Founded80,000 Hours · YCThe Centre for Effective Altruism · YC
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11,729 people in our graph share verified history with William — schools, employers, funds. One of them is your warm intro.
About
William MacAskill is a moral philosopher and senior research fellow at Forethought, where his work focuses on "AGI Preparedness," including topics such as space governance, digital rights, and values for AI systems. He was an Associate Professor at Oxford University from 2015 to 2024 and authored Doing Good Better (2015) and What We Owe The Future (2022), as well as co-authoring Moral Uncertainty (2020) and An Introduction to Utilitarianism (2024). He co-founded several organizations associated with the effective altruism movement, including Giving What We Can (2009), 80,000 Hours (2011), the Centre for Effective Altruism (2012), and the Global Priorities Institute (2017), along with Forethought.
Founder at 80,000 HoursYC S15
Intro paths
William went through Y Combinator (Summer 2015) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
In turn, William can intro founders to 80,000 Hours's investors below.
80,000 Hours's investors · 1
Co-founders at 80,000 Hours
Founder/President at The Centre for Effective AltruismYC W17
Intro paths
William went through Y Combinator (Winter 2017) — any YC alum in your network can reach them through the YC community.
In turn, William can intro founders to The Centre for Effective Altruism's investors below.
The Centre for Effective Altruism's investors · 1
Experience
- ForethoughtSenior Research Fellowcurrent2025 — present
- The Centre for Effective AltruismCofoundercurrent2011 — presentGreater Oxford Area
- 80,000 HoursCofoundercurrent2011 — presentGreater Oxford Area
- Giving What We CanCofoundercurrent2009 — presentGreater Oxford Area
- Global Priorities Institute (Oxford University)Senior Research Fellow2018 — 2025
- University of OxfordAssociate Professor2015 — 2025
- University of OxfordDPhil Student2008 — 2013Greater Oxford Area
Skills & more
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Sustainable DevelopmentSustainabilityNonprofitsClimate ChangeProgram EvaluationPoliticsEnergy PolicyTeachingData AnalysisLanguages English
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Frequently asked questions
- Who is William MacAskill?
- William MacAskill is a moral philosopher and senior research fellow at Forethought, where his work focuses on "AGI Preparedness," including topics such as space governance, digital rights, and values for AI systems. He was an Associate Professor at Oxford University from 2015 to 2024 and authored Doing Good Better (2015) and What We Owe The Future (2022), as well as co-authoring Moral Uncertainty (2020) and An Introduction to Utilitarianism (2024). He co-founded several organizations associated with the effective altruism movement, including Giving What We Can (2009), 80,000 Hours (2011), the Centre for Effective Altruism (2012), and the Global Priorities Institute (2017), along with Forethought.
- Where does William MacAskill work?
- William MacAskill is Founder of 80,000 Hours and Founder/President at The Centre for Effective Altruism.
- What companies did William MacAskill found?
- William MacAskill founded 80,000 Hours, The Centre for Effective Altruism.
- Where did William MacAskill go to school?
- William MacAskill studied at University of Oxford (Bachelor of Philosophy, Philosophy); University of Cambridge (Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Philosophy).
Founder mafias
Y Combinator mafia10,218
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University of Oxford mafia615
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University of Cambridge mafia586
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80,000 Hours mafia2
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Same school
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Also attended University of Cambridge1,412
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Shared employers
Also worked at The Centre for Effective Altruism2
Also worked at 80,000 Hours1
Also worked at Giving What We Can1
Also worked at University of Oxford197
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