FAQ
Frequently asked questions.
Short answers about the lab, the index, the simulation, and what they do and do not claim.
What is CUSP42 Labs?
An independent thought lab on AI risk and the human future. It measures where AI risk stands (the CARI index), simulates how AI could reshape the economies and societies of 178 countries (MoralWorld), structures debate between AI models (Consensus Room), and explores the human question through thought experiments.
Is CUSP42 an AI safety organisation?
It studies AI risk and the societal impact of AI through measurement, simulation and analysis. It does not do technical alignment research on AI models themselves.
What is CARI?
The Civilizational AI Risk Index: a 0-100 score from 70 anchored questions in six dimensions (capability, diffusion, accident, control, governance gap, misuse). It stood at about 9 in 2019 and 44.5 on 1 October 2026, past the line of what institutions planned for. Daily updates will be published at cari.cusp42.com.
What is MoralWorld?
A free, in-browser simulation of how AI propagates through 178 countries: jobs, incomes, public finances, trust, unrest, institutions and global catastrophes, quarter by quarter, driven by CARI. It reports the odds of 28 endings across many runs.
Are the simulations forecasts?
No. They are scenarios under stated assumptions. A single run is one draw of luck; the Odds view runs the same setup many times and shows how often each ending happens. Change an assumption and the distribution changes: that is what the tool is for.
Why do some simulated futures end in catastrophe?
Because the model includes global catastrophes (pandemics, AI-accelerated war, loss of control, dependence collapses) whose chances rise when the AI risk drivers are high, calibrated against historical reference classes and forecasting benchmarks. On today's trend, roughly one simulated future in three meets one before 2050; most do not.
Is it political?
No. One set of rules applies to every country, change is judged against each country's own starting point, countries are not labelled by political system, and wars on posters never name countries.
Is it free?
Yes. MoralWorld, CARI and Consensus Room are free. MoralWorld runs entirely in your browser; nothing you simulate is computed or stored on a server.
How do I cite it?
CUSP42 Labs (2026), with the tool's name and address, for example: CUSP42 Labs (2026). MoralWorld. https://moralworld.cusp42.com. A BibTeX entry is on the MoralWorld page.
How do I get in touch?
Write to [email protected].