Sean is the Director of the AI: Futures and Responsibility Programme, a joint programme between CSER and the Centre for the Future of Intelligence (CFI) on the global risks and governance of advanced AI. Sean’s work focuses on foresight and governance of frontier AI, as well as the geopolitical implications of advanced AI. He leads a number of projects building cooperation on AI governance with research leaders in China and elsewhere, including co-Chairing the World AI Conference’s International AI Governance Programme. He has advised the OECD, Global Partnership on AI, United Nations, and UK Government up to Ministerial level on risks from AI and global catastrophic risk more broadly.
Previously Sean was the founding Executive Director of CSER, leading its establishment with its founders from 2013 to 2015, and leading its major research projects from 2015 to 2020. He was also Acting Director of CSER from 2021-2023. He has a PhD in genome evolution from Trinity College Dublin.