Tristan Harris
Tristan Harris is a co-founder and president of the Center for Humane Technology, a nonprofit that since 2023 extends its mission to the societal risks of artificial intelligence. He co-founds Apture in 2007, and Google acquires the startup in 2011. At Google, he writes a 141-slide presentation on minimizing distraction in 2013, and in 2015 he leaves Google to co-found Time Well Spent. The Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma features him in 2020. In September 2024 he talks with Oprah Winfrey about the risks of powerful AI, and in April 2025 his TED talk calls on listeners to learn from social media's rollout.
- Now at
- Center for Humane Technology
Timeline
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2007–2011
Co-founding Apture
He drops out of Stanford's computer science master's program to co-found Apture in 2007. Google acquires the startup in 2011, and its ten-person team joins the Chrome team.
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2013
A 141-slide deck at Google
In 2013 he writes a 141-slide presentation on minimizing distraction, and it spreads through Google.
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2015
Co-founding Time Well Spent
In 2015 he leaves Google to co-found the nonprofit Time Well Spent, which is later called the Center for Humane Technology.
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2020
The Social Dilemma documentary
In 2020 he is featured in the two-time Emmy-winning Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma.
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Since 2023
Turning the mission toward AI
Since 2023, he and the Center for Humane Technology expand their mission to address the societal risks of artificial intelligence.
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September 2024
Oprah Winfrey's AI special
In September 2024 he and Aza Raskin talk with Oprah Winfrey about the risks of powerful AI on her ABC special.
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April 2025
A TED2025 talk
In April 2025 he gives a TED2025 talk that calls on listeners to learn from social media's rollout and confront the predictable dangers of reckless AI development.
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As of October 2026
Heading the Center for Humane Technology
In 2026 he is co-founder and president of the Center for Humane Technology.
Sources and credits
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