PauseAI

PauseAI was founded in May 2023 in Utrecht, Netherlands by Joep Meindertsma, a software entrepreneur who became alarmed about existential risks from AI after reading Nick Bostrom's Superintelligence and decided to put his company on hold to act on his concerns. What began as a single protest outside Microsoft's Brussels lobbying office grew rapidly into an international network with chapters in more than 14 countries.

The organization is legally registered as Stichting PauseAI (KVK 92951031) in the Netherlands, with ANBI charitable status granted in February 2024. It operates as a federation: PauseAI Global coordinates strategy and supports national and local chapters, which maintain their own websites, social media accounts, and in some cases their own legal entities. PauseAI US is the largest national chapter, operating as a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

The paid staff at the global level consists of an Executive Team of three: CEO Maxime Fournes, Organizing Director Irina Tavera, and Communications Director Jonathan Moody. A board of three — Joep Meindertsma (Founder and Chair), Otto Barten, and Michiel van den Ingh — provides governance oversight. National chapters are led by paid or volunteer Chapter Directors. The bulk of operations are carried out by hundreds of volunteers organized into teams covering operations, onboarding, and communications.

Key activities include: protest organizing (coordinated global actions in May 2024 and February 2025, the largest UK AI safety protest at Google DeepMind in June 2025, and PauseCon training events beginning in 2025); direct lobbying of legislators in the US, EU, and UK; media campaigns that have resulted in coverage in Time, Wired, Politico, and Bloomberg; and a MicroGrants program funding grassroots projects by community members.

As of late 2025, PauseAI had received approximately €715,000 in cumulative donations, with the Future of Life Institute as its largest donor at €422,961. The roadmap page reported approximately €90,000 in cash reserves. The organization's first formal bookkeeping period runs from February 2024 through December 2025, after which an annual report is planned.