Boston Global Forum

What Boston Global Forum does

Boston Global Forum (BGF) is a non-profit policy organization headquartered in Beacon Hill, Boston, Massachusetts, founded by former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, Harvard Business School Professor John Quelch, and Nguyen Anh Tuan. The organization functions as a global forum convening former heads of state, ministers, academics, AI researchers, and policy leaders to develop frameworks and dialogue on AI governance, peace, security, and digital cooperation. Its primary constituents are world-leader recognition recipients, AI Pioneers (including Cynthia Dwork, Alex Pentland, Regina Barzilay, Cynthia Breazeal, Herbert Lin, and Daphne Koller), and emerging leaders participating in the BGF Young Leaders Dream Incubator Program for Vietnamese youth under 25.

BGF's core intellectual property is a portfolio of branded governance frameworks rather than software products. The AI World Society (AIWS) initiative includes the AIWS Trust Infrastructure (continuous monitoring, independent capability testing, verifiable containment, incident reporting, legal accountability), the AIWS Automated Trust Monitor, the AIWS Reward system under a Contribution Economy (Adoption × Impact × Longevity), and the AIWS Lumina Lab for independent verification. Foundational documents include the Boston Declaration, the Constitution for Humanity in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, the Tokyo Compact, and the AIWS Model of Society, alongside flagship publications such as The Age of Global Enlightenment and America at 250: A Beacon for the AI Age. Supporting initiatives include the Global Alliance for Digital Governance (GADG), the Shinzo Abe Initiative for Peace and Security, Global Cybersecurity Day, AIWS City and Rebuilding Ukraine, the United Nations Centennial, and the Global Law and Accord on AI and Digital.

BGF is funded as a non-profit through donations, partnerships, and member engagement, with no commercial product pricing and no publicly disclosed revenue. Distribution runs through Harvard-hosted conferences (notably at Loeb House), award ceremonies (World Leader for Peace and Security, World Leaders in AIWS, Global Enlightenment Leaders), the AIWS weekly newsletter, Beacon Papers, GADG policy briefs, and social channels. The organization has formal relationships with Harvard University (core venue partner), MIT (Dream Incubator partnership), and Vietnamese telecom VNPT (AIWS Trust Infrastructure deployment), and operates affiliated entities including the Michael Dukakis Institute and AIWS.net.

Name

Boston Global Forum

Legal name

Boston Global Forum

Website

https://bostonglobalforum.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Boston Global Forum is a Boston-based non-profit policy forum that convenes world leaders, academics, and AI researchers to develop governance frameworks, declarations, and trust infrastructure for the age of artificial intelligence. It runs AIWS, GADG, awards programs, conferences at Harvard, and the Dream Incubator youth program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research and Think Tank Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

AI Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) Platforms (HDAAAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Responsible AI, Security & Privacy Platforms (Safety, Guardrails, PII) (HDAEANAG), Responsible AI, AI Governance & Compliance Services (BPAEAHAJ), Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB), Executive Summits & Invitation-Only Forums (MPAGAGAK)

Keywords

• AI governance frameworks
• Policy research
• Digital governance
• International cooperation
• Thought leadership

Headquarters

HQ city

Boston, Massachusetts

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Non-profit funding and donations: As a registered non-profit organization, BGF accepts financial support and partnerships to fund its operations and initiatives
2. Newsletter subscriptions: Weekly newsletters covering issues related to privacy and civil liberties in the Information Age, with AIWS Summit, News, Applications, Events, Policies, World leaders, and Shaping futures content

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Boston Global Forum is a non-profit policy organization that develops and disseminates AI governance frameworks, including the AI World Society (AIWS) Trust Infrastructure, AIWS Reward system, and Constitutional frameworks for the AI Age. It operates a global forum convening world leaders, academics, and AI pioneers through conferences at Harvard University, publications (Beacon Papers, books), and recognition programs. Its mission is to facilitate international collaboration on societal concerns related to artificial intelligence, peace, and digital governance.

Product overview

Boston Global Forum is a non-profit policy organization that offers a portfolio of initiatives, awards, publications, and programs focused on global governance, AI policy, and peace and security. The organization's core offerings include the AI World Society (AIWS) initiative with its Trust Infrastructure and Lumina verification system, the Global Alliance for Digital Governance (GADG), various awards programs (World Leader for Peace and Security, World Leaders in AIWS, Global Enlightenment Leaders), the Dream Incubator Program for Vietnamese youth leaders, and major publications including 'The Age of Global Enlightenment' and the book 'America at 250: A Beacon for the AI Age.' The organization also manages thematic initiatives on AI and digital law, cybersecurity, Ukraine reconstruction, and United Nations centenary observances.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AIWS (AI World Society): AI World Society Innovation Network focused on digital governance frameworks and trust infrastructure for artificial intelligence.
• World Leader for Peace and Security Award
• World Leaders in AIWS Award
• Global Enlightenment Leaders
• America at 250

Products and services

• Dream Incubator Program A structured educational and mentorship program for Vietnamese youth under 25, providing access to leading universities (MIT, Harvard) and the Boston innovation ecosystem through a 30-week curriculum. Designed to develop leadership capacity in emerging talent.
• The Age of Global Enlightenment (Publication) BGF's flagship publication presenting research and frameworks on achieving global enlightenment in the AI age.
• Beacon Papers A series of research papers addressing critical issues in AI governance and the Age of Global Enlightenment, including Beacon Papers No. 7 on human intelligence leading in the AI age.
• America at 250: A Beacon for the AI Age (Book) A landmark book by Nguyen Anh Tuan and Michael Dukakis presenting the AIWS Model of Society, the Contribution Economy, and frameworks for trustworthy AI development.

Quantifiable outcome

• BGF has influenced public policies around the globe through its initiatives
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AI Pioneers (Cynthia Dwork, Alex Pentland, Regina Barzilay, Cynthia Breazeal, Herbert Lin, Daphne Koller)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Leading AI researchers recognized as AI Pioneers at America at 250 conference, contributing to AIWS Trust Infrastructure development and human-centered AI discussions
• BGF Young LeaderscoreOthers · 1 January 2015Youth leadership program organizing the Dream Incubator Program for Vietnamese youth under 25, with partnerships with MIT and Harvard ecosystems
• Michael Dukakis Institute (MDI)coreOthersBGF's affiliated institute focused on leadership and innovation, named after the organization's co-founder and chairman
• Global Alliance for Digital Governance (GADG)coreOthersAn alliance coordinated by BGF for digital governance policy coordination, publishing analysis on AI governance developments
• AIWS.net (AI World Society Innovation Network)coreOthersThe AI World Society Innovation Network develops frameworks and standards for trustworthy AI including the AIWS Trust Infrastructure and AIWS Reward system
• Harvard UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBGF hosts conferences and events at Harvard University venues including Loeb House, engaging Harvard faculty and researchers in AI governance discussions
• MITminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in BGF Young Leaders Dream Incubator Program providing exposure to MIT ecosystem for Vietnamese youth
• AIWS Lumina LabcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent verification laboratory for AIWS Trust Infrastructure, conducting assessments of contributions to AI safety and trustworthiness
• VNPTminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVietnamese telecommunications company partnering on AIWS Trust Infrastructure development

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• OECD AI Policy Observatory: Intergovernmental policy observatory tracking AI trends and producing OECD AI Principles. Comparable to BGF's AIWS frameworks but with formal government backing and a global mandate.
• IEEE Standards Association: Develops technical standards including the Ethically Aligned Design framework for AI. Comparable to BGF's AIWS Trust Order/Trust Infrastructure as a standards-development effort, though with a more technical orientation.
• Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI (HAI): University-affiliated institute producing AI policy research, indices, and convenings with significantly larger resources. Comparable mission (human-centered AI governance) but operates at broader institutional scale.
• World Economic Forum – Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Multilateral convening platform producing AI governance frameworks (e.g., AI Governance Alliance). Comparable as a forum convening global leaders on AI policy, though with broader scope and substantially larger footprint.

Direct peers

• Partnership on AI: Multi-stakeholder non-profit convening academia, civil society, and industry to develop AI governance frameworks and best practices. Directly comparable to BGF's AIWS as a cross-sector forum producing policy frameworks for trustworthy AI.
• Future of Life Institute: Non-profit focused on reducing existential risk from advanced AI through policy advocacy, the Asilomar AI Principles, and grantmaking. Comparable to BGF's AI governance focus and thought-leadership-driven operating model.
• AI Now Institute: NYU-based research institute producing policy research on AI accountability, bias, and governance. Comparable as a think tank producing AI governance frameworks aimed at policymakers and civil society.
• Center for AI Safety: Research and field-building organization focused on AI existential risk and safety, including the Statement on AI Risk. Comparable to BGF's safety/trust infrastructure work for advanced AI systems.

Emerging players

• Asilomar AI Principles: Concise set of AI governance principles signed by AI researchers. Comparable in spirit to BGF's Boston Declaration and Constitution for Humanity as foundational governance artifacts in the AI safety field.

Regional players

• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace – Technology and International Affairs Program: Think tank with a dedicated program on AI, cyber, and emerging tech policy. Comparable to BGF as a policy research forum engaging international affairs and AI governance, though embedded in a larger foreign policy institution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/bostongf
• Facebookfacebook.com/bostonglobalforum.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/boston-global-forum

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Boston Global Forum