Coalition for a Baruch Plan for AI

Project summary

Catalyzing a uniquely bold, timely, effective and inclusive treaty-making process for AI.

The Coalition for a Baruch Plan for AI aims to advance a global treaty-making process and engineering initiative for AI governance of unprecedented scope and urgency. The initiative draws inspiration from the 1946 Baruch Plan for nuclear technology, but aims to avoid its failures through a more effective and inclusive treaty-making model.

The project seeks to establish a powerful global intergovernmental organization to manage AI development, with three key components: an AI Safety Agency to set and enforce global safety standards, a Global Public Benefit AI Lab to develop safe AI technologies, and an IT Security Agency to enable secure governance systems.

What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?

The primary goals are to:

Convince heads of state, especially of China and the US, to engage in an effective global treaty-making process for AI governance
Build a critical mass of non-superpower states to co-design and launch such a process
Establish a Global Public Benefit AI Lab funded at several hundred billion dollars

These goals will be achieved through:

Direct engagement with key advisors and security agencies of major powers
Organization of high-level summits and working groups to advance treaty frameworks
Development of detailed technical and policy proposals
Building a coalition of diverse states, experts, and organizations
Fostering "track 1.5 diplomacy" between governmental and non-governmental entities
Producing comprehensive analysis and recommendations for global AI governance structures

The project will follow a structured roadmap with clear milestones, including the organization of the 1st Harnessing AI Risk Summit in Spring 2025 and subsequent summits to build momentum and participation.

How will this funding be used?

The requested funding will support one full time person and about $400/months in digital services expenses to coordinate over 20 team members and advisors working on a volunteer basis to:

Development of convincing content and materials targeting key decision-makers and their advisors about the need for comprehensive AI treaty-making
Outreach and engagement with heads of state, particularly President Xi and President-Elect Trump, their key advisors, security agencies, and leading AI labs
Expansion of the coalition's team of advisors, volunteers, and partners to increase advocacy scope and effectiveness
Conduct of detailed research and production of comprehensive treaty-making and policy proposals
Organization of hybrid summits, working groups, and other diplomatic initiatives
Core operational costs including communications, travel, and administrative support

Currently operating entirely on volunteer effort, funding would enable the coalition to professionalize its operations and significantly expand its reach and impact.

More on our Goals, Objectives, Activities and Roadmap Page.

Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

The Coalition brings together an impressive array of experts and organizations, including:

Rufo Guerreschi, Convenor and Executive Director of the Coalition for a Baruch Plan for AI and only full-time volunteer. As executive Director of the Trustless Computing Association, for over 7 years, he has led the advancement of a new global intergovernmental organizations for trustworthy and democratic digital communications - the Trustless Computing Certification Body - attracting extensive interest by 15 nation states as well as by over 120 exceptional speakers to its 11 events in 3 continents to promote the TCCB.
The team and advisors combines expertise in global governance coordination, AI technology, security, and global governance, with members having worked on major international initiatives and technical projects.

The founding partners include established organizations with relevant experience:

Trustless Computing Association, working since 2015 on global governance of AI and digital communications
World Federalist Movement, which successfully coordinated the Coalition for the International Criminal Court
PauseAI, which has gained significant traction in AI safety advocacy
European Center for Peace and Development, a UN-established institution

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

Primary failure modes include:

Lack of sufficient buy-in from superpowers and key states due to competing national interests, a zero-sum game mentality and ideological superiority complexes
Technical challenges in implementing proposed safety and security measures
Insufficient funding to support necessary diplomatic and technical work

Potential outcomes of failure:

Continued acceleration of unsafe AI development without adequate international oversight
Increased concentration of AI power in a few states or companies
Higher risk of catastrophic AI accidents or misuse
Missed opportunity to establish effective global governance before advanced AI capabilities emerge
Potential loss of human control over increasingly powerful AI systems

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

Announced in September 2024 and Launched on December 18th, 2025, the Coalition is still operating entirely based on volunteer work.

So far, we have focused on building a solid team and secretariat, and onboarding exceptional experts and NGOs from around the world to develop a detailed 90-page Case for a Coalition for a Baruch Plan for AI (v.1) PDF and an Open Call for a Coalition for a Baruch Plan for AI.

We are very proud that our progress to date has been made possible entirely by the volunteer effort of our six founding partners, executive committee, and advisors for over 1,500 hours and several thousand dollars. Only through volunteer work have we grown from 6 NGOs to 10 NGOs and over 30 among advisors, team members and volunteers.

Some team members and advisors have contributed so far at considerable financial and personal costs, demonstrating exceptional dedication, sacrifice and frugality. Here are all those who so far have contributed 20 hours or more to the Coalition:

Rufo Guerreschi, 750 hours, $3000 (full-time)
Felix De Simone, 220 hours, $600
Joep Meindertsma, 130 hours
Wendell Wallach, 80 hours
Robert Whitfield, 60 hours, $600
Tolga Bilge, 60 hours
Richard Pagett, 40 hours
David Wood, 40 hours
Mark Barwinski, 30 hours
Massimiliano Alessandri, 20 hrs
Roberto Savio, 25 hrs
undisclosed, 60 hours
undisclosed, 300 hours