The Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence (CFI) is an interdisciplinary research centre within the University of Cambridge that studies artificial intelligence. It is funded by the Leverhulme Trust, a major UK grant-making foundation. As of 2026, the centre is led by executive director Rachel Adams, with Stephen Cave serving as academic director. The centre was established to address the long-term implications of AI, focusing on both technical development and its ethical, social, and political dimensions.
The centre brings together academics from the fields of computer science, philosophy, social science, and other disciplines. It collaborates with the Oxford Martin School at the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, and the University of California, Berkeley. It also holds a memorandum of understanding with the Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs at the Australian National University. This network supports cross-institutional research on topics ranging from algorithmic transparency to the impact of AI on democratic systems.
Research Programmes
The CFI research is structured in a series of programmes and research exercises. The topics of the programmes range from algorithmic transparency to exploring the implications of AI for democracy. Key programmes include AI: Futures and Responsibility, AI: Trust and Society, Kinds of Intelligence, AI: Narrative and Justice, and Philosophy and Ethics of AI. These initiatives examine how AI systems can be designed to align with human values, how trust is built between users and Artificial intelligence systems, and how different forms of intelligence - including non-human ones - can inform AI development.
Animal-AI Olympics
In July 2019, Leverhulme released the Animal-AI Olympics competition, featuring tests ordinarily used to test animal intelligence. The competition was designed to evaluate AI systems using cognitive tasks drawn from comparative psychology, such as object permanence, spatial reasoning, and tool use. The goal was to benchmark AI capabilities against animal cognition, providing insights into the strengths and limitations of current Machine learning approaches. The competition attracted participation from research teams worldwide and contributed to discussions about general intelligence in AI.
Interdisciplinary Approach
The centre's work is notable for its integration of technical research with philosophical and social inquiry. Researchers at CFI study not only the algorithms behind Deep learning and Neural network systems but also the broader questions of how these technologies affect human agency, justice, and narrative. The Philosophy and Ethics of AI programme, for instance, explores moral responsibility in autonomous systems, while the AI: Narrative and Justice programme investigates how AI shapes public discourse and fairness. This approach distinguishes CFI from purely technical labs, positioning it as a hub for critical reflection on AI's trajectory.
Collaboration and Impact
CFI's partnerships extend beyond academia into policy and public engagement. Through its memorandum with the Australian National University, the centre engages with Asia-Pacific perspectives on AI governance. Its work with the Oxford Martin School and Imperial College London facilitates joint projects on AI risk and societal resilience. The centre also contributes to public debates, publishing reports and hosting events that inform policymakers and the public about AI's potential benefits and dangers. As of 2026, under the leadership of Rachel Adams and Stephen Cave, CFI continues to shape the global conversation on responsible AI development.
See Also
- Centre for the Study of Existential Risk
- Future of Humanity Institute
- Future of Life Institute
- Machine Intelligence Research Institute