Peter Andreas Thiel: More Info

Philanthropy

Peter Andreas Thiel provided $100,000 of matching funds to back the Singularity Challenge donation drive of the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence in 2006. In addition he joined the Institute’s advisory board and also participated in the May 2006 Singularity Summit at Stanford.

In September 2006 Thiel announced that he would contribute $3.5 million to support anti-aging research through the Methuselah Mouse Prize foundation. He explained the reasons for his pledge: “Rapid advances in biological science foretell of a treasure trove of discoveries this century, including dramatically improved health and longevity for all. I’m backing Dr. de Grey, because I believe that his revolutionary approach to aging research will accelerate this process, allowing many people alive today to enjoy radically longer and healthier lives for themselves and their loved ones.”

In May 2007 Peter Andreas Thiel provided half of the $400,000 of matching funds for the annual Singularity Challenge donation campaign.

In April, 2008, Thiel pledged $500,000 to the new Seasteading Institute, which is directed by Patri Friedman. Its mission is “to establish permanent, autonomous ocean communities to enable experimentation and innovation with diverse social, political, and legal systems”. This was followed in February of 2010 by another grant of $250,000, and an extra $100,000 in matching funds.

Peter Andreas Thiel is also a supporter of the Committee to Protect Journalists, which promotes the ability of journalists to report the news freely without fear of reprisals.

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