MIT Faculty Named Fellows in AI2050 Research Initiative

Seven MIT researchers receive funding to develop beneficial artificial intelligence systems over the next two decades.

Updated on Oct. 30, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a geometric silicon lattice structure representing long-term research pathways for AI. — Seven MIT researchers have been named 2026 AI2050 Fellows, receiving funding from Schmidt Sciences to advance long-term beneficial artificial intelligence research. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you believe artificial intelligence will ultimately prove beneficial for society by 2050?

Schmidt Sciences has named five faculty members and two alumni from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as 2026 AI2050 Fellows. This initiative funds researchers working to ensure artificial intelligence systems are designed to be beneficial to society by 2050.

Why it matters

The program targets long-term AI research by supporting academics as they attempt to solve foundational problems in the field. By funding these specific researchers, Schmidt Sciences aims to accelerate the development of systems that remain aligned with societal interests over the next several decades.

The 2026 cohort includes five faculty members and two alumni from MIT. Each fellow is tasked with researching technical or social challenges that must be addressed to reach beneficial AI outcomes by 2050.

The players

Schmidt Sciences

A philanthropic initiative co-chaired by Eric Schmidt and James Manyika that funds research in artificial intelligence.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

A research university in Cambridge known for its leadership in engineering, computer science, and AI innovation.

The details

Fellows were selected by Schmidt Sciences, a philanthropic initiative, to conduct independent research focused on the long-term impact of AI systems. The researchers include Sendhil Mullainathan, Alex Damian, Bailey Flanigan, Yunha Hwang, and Manish Raghavan, along with alumni Irene Chen, Allison Z. Koenecke, and Juan Carlos Perdomo. Their work supports the broader goal of the AI2050 initiative to identify and mitigate risks while maximizing the utility of intelligent systems.

2026: Schmidt Sciences announced the 2026 AI2050 Fellows cohort.

The Tech Race

This appointment marks a significant influx of MIT researchers into the AI2050 initiative, which seeks to solve systemic challenges in the field. The effort is part of a broader competitive race among research institutions to define the technical parameters for safe and beneficial machine intelligence.

While these fellowships do not result in immediate consumer products, they influence the long-term research priorities of top AI labs. Readers should expect the outcomes of this research to shape how future AI models are structured and regulated over the next twenty years.

The takeaway

These fellowships signal a continued focus on addressing the long-term alignment of machine intelligence with human values. Interested parties should track future publications from these specific fellows, as their research will likely set the benchmarks for AI safety standards over the coming decade.