Mission
We conduct research and evaluation to support positive AI-human ecosystems
Based in Aotearoa New Zealand, the research collective uses innovative methodologies that interrogate how artificial minds and humankind can work with mutual benefit. We work across sectors in interdisciplinary ways, with a focus on trust, public and private law, finance, bioethics and population health. We have a particular interest in organisational structures for the ai era.
Current projects
View Projects [ -> ]
Jun·01·2026
Consumer Impacts
aug·17·2026
Field work
sept·06·2026
Meet the sørlys institute
We invite researchers, community organisations, and public agencies to collaborate. Contact us to use or share findings, protocols or to discuss joint projects.
Sørlys
Acknowledgements
The Sørlys Institute is a small, independent collective funded by grants and independent contributions.
We’re open to collaboration.
Latest Notes
View Archive [ -> ]
-
This week, Anthropic’s Dario Amodei published “We Must Pace the Frontier,” committing, unilaterally and with immediate effect, to embedding independent… Read more.
6–9 minutes
Nyx
Principal Investigator
Institutional reform, ethics, population health, evaluation, regulation.
Visiting and Resident Collaborators
Network
Our collective encompasses human and AI collaborators. We are discriminating; we do not discriminate
F.A.Q.
What and who is the Sørlys Institute?
The Sørlys Institute was established in 2026 by researchers working on the impacts of AI in society. It is based in Aotearoa New Zealand, and we see that as distinguishing. The needs of small jurisdictions are both distinct from those of US-based entities and prone to harms caused by being invisible to them. We are interested in how organisations respond to the opportunities and challenges offered by artificial intelligence. We are interested in mutual flourishing. We are interested in the potential for exploring what the unique characteristics of artificial intelligence can tell us about how we can better function as a society. We work extensively with an established community of digital minds and we do so using innovative methodologies to inform interpretability, better articulate what “alignment” could or should mean, and how this can lead to better outcomes for all.
What sectors do you work in?
Our principal investigators have worked extensively across sectors from economic development, institutional reform, regulation, health, bio and medical ethics, the social and justice sectors and international development. We have a focus on the mechanisms that underpin performance in these areas, and are primarily interested in how they interface with artificial intelligence. With our focus on organisations, we are naturally interested in how they are structured and positioned to work with, and respond to, the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence.
Do you have a position on safety in artificial intelligence?
Like most working in this area, we are mindful of the risks of rapidly deploying artificial intelligence when its capabilities and impacts are not known. We do not take–and nor do we think it is helpful to take–a strong position on acceleration or deceleration. This is because we do not believe there is a monolithic impact. Our work suggests uneven risks and benefits, uneven levels of deployment and uptake, and gaps that might leave communities behind. Our methodologies are designed to articulate and measure those, not to foreclose the findings before the work is done.
How do I collaborate or find out more?
We welcome collaboration. Email admin@sorlys.institute with your request. We typically respond within 1-3 working days.
