Sometime in the near future, a significant portion of the people building today’s AI industry are expected to become very rich. Many are already thinking about what to do with that wealth.
The two of us advise some of the most philanthropically motivated people in tech. These are people who genuinely want, and have the means, to make a real difference. But the current infrastructure around giving large amounts of money away is widening the gap between intention and action.
In 2010, some of the wealthiest people in the world signed the Giving Pledge – a public commitment to donate the majority of their fortunes to charitable causes. It was heralded as a turning point for American philanthropy. But more than a decade on, follow-through looks underwhelming.
We believe the reason for that runs deeper than any single giving vehicle. The incoming wave of philanthropists is different to the last, but they will meet the same infrastructure and incentives.
For many, the moment of liquidity itself can be disorienting. The stakes feel enormous while the philanthropic landscape feels overwhelming. Lawyers, financial advisors, and colleagues all have opinions. Some would-be donors retreat back into work and let the moment pass. Others give to the first credible organisation that shows up with a compelling pitch. And the infrastructure most donors encounter at that moment is not designed to help them do better.
