PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Risto Uuk

Risto Uuk works on European AI policy and contributed to shaping the EU AI Act’s provisions for general-purpose AI and systemic risk. His LSE dissertation examined AI-driven unemployment and universal basic income, and he applied that research to a World Economic Forum project on positive AI economic futures. He also conducted trustworthy-AI research for the European Commission. He co-authored work on defining general-purpose AI systems, mapping systemic risks, and examining arguments about AI existential risk. As of October 2026, he is Head of European Policy and Research at the Future of Life Institute and a co-founder of KU Leuven’s AI Safety Lab.

Works
19
Citations
235
h-index
6

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. By February 2022

    From LSE to EU AI policy

    At LSE, he completes an MSc in Philosophy and Public Policy; his dissertation examines AI-driven unemployment and universal basic income, and he applies that research to a World Economic Forum project on positive AI economic futures. In February 2022, he works as a policy researcher at the Future of Life Institute and joins EDRi and Amnesty International in calling for changes to the EU AI Act’s treatment of AI manipulation. Earlier in his career, he researches trustworthy AI for the European Commission and earns a bachelor’s degree from Tallinn University.

  2. 2023

    Defining general-purpose AI

    In 2023, he coauthors a paper that examines four approaches to distinguishing general-purpose AI systems from fixed-purpose systems.

  3. 2024

    A taxonomy of systemic risk

    In 2024, he coauthors a taxonomy of systemic risks from general-purpose AI. The paper analyzes 86 selected papers and identifies 13 risk categories, including environmental harm, structural discrimination, governance failures, and loss of control.

  4. November 2025

    An AI existential-risk analysis

    In November 2025, he coauthors a philosophical analysis of popular arguments against AI existential risk.

  5. July 2026

    Revising the EU AI Act

    In July 2026, he traces how EU negotiations add a tiered framework for general-purpose AI models to the AI Act.

  6. As of October 2026

    Leading European AI policy

    As of October 2026, he is Head of European Policy and Research at the Future of Life Institute and contributed to the EU AI Act’s general-purpose AI and systemic-risk provisions. He is a co-founder of KU Leuven’s AI Safety Lab and researches the assessment and mitigation of systemic risks from general-purpose AI.

Sources and credits

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  1. Risto Uuk | LSE Philosophy Alum Story - LSE lse.ac.uk. Checked 15 October 2026.
  2. FLI February 2022 Newsletter - Future of Life Institute futureoflife.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  3. Risto Uuk - Future of Life Institute futureoflife.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  4. Operationalising the Definition of General Purpose AI Systems: Assessing Four Approaches arxiv.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  5. A Taxonomy of Systemic Risks from General-Purpose AI arxiv.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  6. Policy and Research - Future of Life Institute futureoflife.org. Checked 15 October 2026.
  7. ChatGPT Didn't Break the AI Act. It Showed Why Adaptive Regulation Matters | TechPolicy.Press techpolicy.press. Checked 15 October 2026.
  8. Risto Uuk — KU Leuven AI Safety Lab aisafetylab.eu. Checked 15 October 2026.