About Transformer
Transformer is a publication about the power and politics of transformative AI.
Through news roundups, explainers, features and opinion pieces, we aim to help you understand what’s happening in AI and why it matters. We provide decision makers with the information and analysis needed to anticipate and steer the impacts of transformative AI.
The team
Shakeel Hashim, Editor
Shakeel leads Transformer’s newsroom and strategy. He was previously a journalist and editor at the Economist, Protocol, and Finimize. He is also on the leadership team of the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism, Transformer’s parent organization. He was previously head of communications at the Center for Effective Altruism. He is based in London.
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shakeel(at)transformernews(dot)ai
Jasper Jackson, Managing Editor
Jasper oversees Transformer’s day-to-day operations, and edits work from our staff and freelance contributors. He was previously Tech Editor at the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Digital Editor at the New Statesman, and Assistant Media Editor at the Guardian. He is based in London.
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jasper(at)transformernews(dot)ai
Celia Ford, Reporter
Celia is an AI reporter at Transformer, covering both technical and policy developments. She was previously a Future Perfect fellow at Vox and a AAAS Mass Media Fellow at WIRED. She holds a PhD in neuroscience from the University of California, Berkeley, and is now based in Oakland.
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celia(at)transformernews(dot)ai
Jamie Condliffe, Opinion Editor
Jamie runs Transformer’s opinion section, commissioning and editing pieces from external authors. He was previously Chief Content Officer at Sifted, Executive Editor at Protocol, and DealBook Editor at the New York Times. He is based in Yorkshire.
jamie(at)transformernews(dot)ai
Our views
We believe that there is a non-negligible chance that society might be on the cusp of developing transformative AI — tools with unprecedented capabilities that will radically reshape society. We also believe that there is a chance such technology could pose significant societal-scale risks.
We do not claim to know how likely any of this is, or on what timeframe we might expect it to happen. But we do think that the chances of developing such systems in the coming decades are big enough to warrant taking seriously.
Transformer is dedicated to covering AI through that lens. Our aim is to provide decision-makers the information and analysis needed to help anticipate and steer the impacts of transformative AI.
Beyond those core views, however, we hope to be a home for vibrant debate and discussion. The only correct response to the current state of AI is deep uncertainty. We aim to reflect that uncertainty to our readers by platforming a diverse range of perspectives and opinions.
We also encourage Transformer’s staff members and contributors — who do not agree on everything! — to share their own views. Ultimately, we trust you, our readers, to make up your own minds about what to believe.
Funding and independence
Transformer is a project of the Tarbell Center for AI Journalism. Transformer is primarily funded by Open Philanthropy, and Tarbell has a range of other funders (all listed here).
We retain editorial independence from our funders. Our funders do not have any involvement in selecting which stories we write, and do not review or influence the content, conclusions, or framing of Transformer’s reporting. In stories where we report on our funders or interview someone who works there, we will disclose the relationship.
The Tarbell Center is Transformer’s publisher. Transformer retains editorial independence. Transformer’s work is representative solely of the views of Transformer’s reporters and contributors, and does not reflect the views of the Tarbell Center, its other grantees, or its fellows.
You can see more details in our ethics statement.
Editorial standards and ethics
You can find our full editorial standards and ethics guide here.
Pitching Transformer
Transformer accepts news, features and explainer pitches from freelance journalists. We also welcome op-eds from AI experts in industry, policy, or academia. For details on how to pitch us, please see here.
