PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Daniel Schmachtenberger

Daniel Schmachtenberger is a public voice on artificial intelligence whose systems work connects collective intelligence with civilizational risk. Homeschooled, he started a think tank in 2007, and the experience informed his systems approach to human neurochemistry; he co-founded Neurohacker Collective in 2015. His 2017 essay argued that maladaptive, self-generating collective systems can become existential threats, and he discussed the rise and fall of societies, catastrophic risk and technological growth with Lex Fridman in 2021. In May 2023, he examined AI's risks to global systems; in June 2024, he co-authored Development in Progress, and in July 2024 he discussed AI's environmental impacts. As of October 2026, he serves in Project Strategy at The Consilience Project and as Executive Director of the Civilization Research Institute.

Now at
The Consilience Project and Civilization Research Institute
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Timeline

  1. 2007

    Starting a systems think tank

    Homeschooled, he starts a think tank in 2007. The experience informs his systems approach to complex problems, which he applies to human neurochemistry.

  2. 2015

    Co-founding Neurohacker Collective

    He co-founds Neurohacker Collective with James Schmachtenberger and Jordan Greenhall in 2015. The three founders see scientific investment as important for developing complex, whole-systems dietary supplements.

  3. 2017

    New Economic Series: Part 3

    In his 2017 essay “New Economic Series: Part 3,” he argues that a self-generating, maladaptive collective intelligence system that misaligns coordination with well-being can become an existential threat. He traces global issues to macroeconomic structures.

  4. June 2021

    A Lex Fridman podcast

    In June 2021, he joins Lex Fridman for episode 191, “Steering Civilization Away from Self-Destruction.” The conversation covers the rise and fall of societies, catastrophic risk and exponential technology growth.

  5. May 2023

    Artificial intelligence and the superorganism

    In May 2023, he joins Nate Hagens on The Great Simplification to discuss AI as a risk to global systems and planetary stability. The episode examines how AI could accelerate the metacrisis and whether it can help build a more stable system.

  6. June 2024

    Development in Progress

    In June 2024, he co-authors Development in Progress, a paper on the history of progress and the consequences of advancement. The discussion asks how narratives and values in institutions reinforce growth at the expense of the natural world and human well-being.

  7. July 2024

    Silicon dreams and carbon nightmares

    In July 2024, he joins Nate Hagens on The Great Simplification to examine environmental risks embedded in AI's current trajectory. The episode considers how AI could intensify extraction, inequality and social fragmentation.

  8. As of October 2026

    Project strategy and institute leadership

    As of October 2026, The Consilience Project lists him in Project Strategy, with work in social philosophy, collective intelligence and risk mitigation. The Civilization Research Institute identifies him as its Executive Director.

Career

  1. NowThe Consilience ProjectProject Strategy
  2. NowCivilization Research InstituteExecutive Director
  3. From 2015Neurohacker CollectiveCo-founder

From the biography.

Videos

YouTube videos in which Daniel Schmachtenberger speaks or appears, newest first. A model chose them from YouTube search results. List updated 20 October 2026.

  1. Daniel Schmachtenberger: Steering Civilization Away from Self-Destruction | Lex Fridman Podcast #191Lex Fridman · 14 June 2021 · 4 h 15 min

Video data from YouTube API Services. By watching you agree to the YouTube Terms of Service. How we use YouTube data.

  1. Google had the most people shaping AI every year from 2014 to 2025Our estimates of which organizations employed the most people shaping AI each year from 1955 to 2025, tracing the shift from university labs to companies.
  2. The United States employs an estimated 48% of people shaping AIWe estimate where the people shaping AI work today, how universities, companies and research institutes split across countries, and how country shares have changed since the 1960s.
  3. 43% of living people shaping AI work outside their country of birthWe estimate that 43% of living people shaping AI work outside their country of birth (520 of 1,198 people with known birth and employment countries).
  4. More people shaping AI studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology than at any other institutionWe estimate where the people shaping AI studied and where their careers led. Massachusetts Institute of Technology leads with 467 former students, including 291 recorded doctorates.

Colleagues

People named in this biography, and people with dated positions at the same organization in the same years.

Sources and credits

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

  1. Neurohacker Collective – Sector Spotlight – Transformative Technology Lab transtechlab.org. Checked 21 October 2026.
  2. Qualia wins the 24th annual NBJ Award for Science and Innovation newhope.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  3. New Economic Series: Part 3 civilizationemerging.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  4. #191 – Daniel Schmachtenberger: Steering Civilization Away from Self-Destruction | Lex Fridman Podcast lexfridman.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  5. Daniel Schmachtenberger: “Artificial Intelligence and The Superorganism” - The Great Simplification thegreatsimplification.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  6. Daniel Schmachtenberger: “Moving from Naive to Authentic Progress: A Vision for Betterment” - The Great Simplification thegreatsimplification.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  7. Daniel Schmachtenberger: “Silicon Dreams and Carbon Nightmares: The Wide Boundary Impacts of AI” - The Great Simplification thegreatsimplification.com. Checked 21 October 2026.
  8. About the Project - The Consilience Project consilienceproject.org. Checked 21 October 2026.
  9. Chief of Staff: Careers: The Civilization Research Institute civilizationresearchinstitute.org. Checked 21 October 2026.