PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Benjamin Todd

Also known as Ben Todd, Benjamin J Todd

Benjamin Todd is an author and the president of 80,000 Hours, whose career advice has helped people move into AI safety work. He earned a master’s degree in Physics and Philosophy at Oxford, interned as an analyst at Orbis Investment Advisory, and co-founded the nonprofit with Will MacAskill. He co-authored a 2013 climate paper and gave a 2015 TEDx talk about finding fulfilling work. He made the largest contribution to 80,000 Hours’ Key Ideas guide. He published his career guide in May 2026; as of October 2026, he writes about advanced AI and advises projects working on AI risks.

Now at
80,000 Hours
Badges

Timeline

  1. By 2012

    Oxford and Orbis

    By 2012, he earns a master’s degree in Physics and Philosophy at Oxford and interns as an analyst at Orbis Investment Advisory before he co-founds 80,000 Hours with Will MacAskill.

  2. 2013

    The social cost of carbon

    He coauthors “Climate system properties determining the social cost of carbon,” a 2013 Environmental Research Letters paper with Alexander Otto, Niel Bowerman, David J Frame, and Myles R Allen.

  3. May 2015

    A career-choice talk

    He releases a TEDx talk about finding fulfilling work in May 2015.

  4. 2019

    The Key Ideas guide

    In 2019, he serves as 80,000 Hours’ CEO and makes the largest contribution to its Key Ideas guide, a summary of the organization’s career research.

  5. As of October 2026

    President of 80,000 Hours

    In May 2026, he publishes 80,000 Hours: How to Have a Fulfilling Career That Does Good, a guide that discusses career choices in an age of AI. The organization’s advice helps thousands of people change careers, including people who helped pioneer AI-safety research. As of October 2026, he is 80,000 Hours’ president, writes about advanced AI, and provides strategy consulting to projects aiming to tackle AI risks, including Epoch AI and an AI-focused hedge fund.

Career

  1. Since 201980,000 HoursCo-founder, CEO
  2. Until 2012Orbis Investment AdvisoryAnalyst Intern

Education

  1. 2012University of OxfordMaster's degree in Physics and Philosophy

From the biography.

  1. The median h-index is 54 at universities and 19 at frontier AI labsIncludes University of Oxford. The median h-index is 54 at universities and 19 at frontier AI labs. We compare publishing careers, citations and moves to estimate how universities and frontier labs contribute to AI research.
  2. Google has the highest combined h-index among AI organizationsIncludes University of Oxford. Our estimates of combined and median h-index at AI organizations, using current affiliations and OpenAlex records.
  3. Stanford University trained or employed 26 of the 108 AI major-prize winners, more than any other universityIncludes University of Oxford. Stanford University trained or employed 26 of the 108 AI major-prize winners, more than any other university. We compare doctorate and employment links for major-prize and best-paper winners.
  4. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionIncludes University of Oxford. Our estimates of where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led, from education records in cited biographies.

Colleagues

People with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

Photo: We have no published photo of Benjamin Todd yet. Send us a free-licensed photo.

  1. My bio - Benjamin Todd benjamintodd.org. Checked 18 October 2026.
  2. 80,000 Hours penguin.co.uk. Checked 18 October 2026.
  3. #71 – Benjamin Todd on the key ideas of 80,000 Hours 80000hours.org. Checked 18 October 2026.
  4. Professor Myles Allen CBE FRS: Publications | University of Oxford Department of Physics physics.ox.ac.uk. Checked 18 October 2026.
  5. New TEDx talk released! | 80,000 Hours 80000hours.org. Checked 18 October 2026.