Netflix co-founder Reed Hastings joins Anthropic’s board of directors

Investing.com -- Reed Hastings, the co-founder and former CEO of Netflix (NASDAQ:NFLX), has been appointed to the board of directors at Anthropic by the Long Term Benefit Trust. Hastings, who led Netflix for over 25 years and helped transform it into a global entertainment leader, also has board experience with Facebook (NASDAQ:META), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Bloomberg.

The Trust chose Hastings for his leadership skills, his philanthropic efforts, and his dedication to addressing societal challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI). This appointment comes at a critical point in AI development, according to Buddy Shah, Chair of Anthropic’s Long Term Benefit Trust.

Hastings has shown a keen interest in AI and its societal impact. He recently donated $50 million to Bowdoin College to establish a research initiative on AI and Humanity. This initiative will study how AI could change work, relationships, and education, and will also develop ethical guidelines for using AI. These areas of research align closely with Anthropic’s own interests.

In addition to his focus on AI, Hastings has spent decades working to improve education and global development opportunities. He has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to charter schools in low-income U.S. communities and is a board member of the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP)’s network of 275 schools. Internationally, he supports Kenyan farmers through the One Acre Fund and subsidizes internet access in Rwanda, where he helped start a program that offers smartphones at a fraction of the U.S. cost.

Hastings expressed his optimism about the potential benefits of AI for humanity, but also acknowledged the economic, social, and safety challenges it presents. He stated his commitment to Anthropic’s approach to AI development and his desire to help humanity progress.

Hastings’ experience with Netflix and his investments in education reform and digital infrastructure in emerging markets give him a practical understanding of how to ensure technology benefits society from the beginning. Daniela Amodei, President of Anthropic, praised Hastings for his focus on the human impact of technology, stating that his perspective makes him an ideal addition to the board.

With Hastings’ appointment, the Trust continues to assemble a board with diverse expertise to guide Anthropic in its mission to develop reliable, interpretable, and steerable AI systems.

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