PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Jaan Tallinn

Jaan Tallinn was a founding engineer of Skype and Kazaa and is an investor in AI companies. He co-founded the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk in 2012 and the Future of Life Institute, which launched at MIT in May 2014. He made an early investment in DeepMind and led the $124 million Series A round for Anthropic in 2021. He was listed among the members of the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Body on AI. As of October 2026, he sits on the Board of Sponsors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

Timeline

  1. 1996

    A physics degree in Tartu

    At the University of Tartu in Estonia, he graduates in 1996 with a BSc in theoretical physics.

  2. 2005

    Selling his Skype shares

    He is a founding engineer of Skype and Kazaa, and in 2005 he sells his Skype shares as the company is purchased.

  3. 2012

    Co-founding CSER

    In 2012 he co-founds the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, with Huw Price and Martin Rees.

  4. May 2014

    Co-founding the Future of Life Institute

    The Future of Life Institute launches at MIT in May 2014, and he is one of its co-founders.

  5. 2014

    An early DeepMind investment

    He makes an early investment in DeepMind, which Google buys in 2014.

  6. 2021

    Lead investor in Anthropic

    In 2021 he leads the $124 million Series A round for Anthropic.

  7. 2023

    Member of the UN AI body

    He is listed among the members of the UN Secretary-General's High-Level Advisory Body on AI, which schedules its first meeting for October 2023.

  8. As of October 2026

    Board of Sponsors seat

    As of October 2026, he sits on the Board of Sponsors of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and is a partner at Ambient Sound Investments.

Sources and credits

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  1. Jaan Tallinn - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  2. Jaan Tallinn - CSER cser.ac.uk. Checked 14 October 2026.
  3. FLI launch event @ MIT - Future of Life Institute futureoflife.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  4. Members | United Nations un.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  5. Anthropic raises $124 million Series A \ Anthropic anthropic.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  6. UN Secretary-General launches AI Advisory Body on risks, opportunities, and international governance of artificial intelligence | United Nations in India india.un.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  7. Jaan Tallinn | Faraday Institute for Science and Religion faraday.cam.ac.uk. Checked 14 October 2026.