# Harris' nonprofit lays off half its staff to focus on founder > The Center for Humane Technology is abandoning policy research and litigation to make Tristan Harris the public face of its work. - Title: Harris' nonprofit lays off half its staff to focus on founder - Summary: The Center for Humane Technology is abandoning policy research and litigation to make Tristan Harris the public face of its work. The Center for Humane… - Keywords: center for humane technology, tristan harris, nonprofit layoffs, tech accountability, artificial intelligence, social media regulation, Harris', nonprofit, lays, half, staff, focus - Source: WIRED — https://wired.com/story/tristan-harris-tech-nonprofit-is-laying-off-most-staff-and-going-founder-led - Author: Paresh Dave - Published: 2026-10-08T09:30:00+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: center for humane technology, tristan harris, nonprofit layoffs, tech accountability, artificial intelligence, social media regulation ## Nonprofit cuts staff in half The Center for Humane Technology, cofounded by former Google product manager Tristan Harris, is laying off about half of its sixteen non-founder employees, including executive director Julie Guirado and senior director of strategy Camille Carlton. ## Timing follows major courtroom wins The nine departures come shortly after the center scored a series of major courtroom victories against social media companies. The lawsuits drew on its research alleging that platforms were deliberately designed to keep kids glued to their screens. ## Years of internal debate over direction Internal debates had been brewing for years over the organization's direction, according to sixteen former workers, most of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because they feared professional repercussions. ## Board chooses founder-led strategy The board determined that operating both as an advocacy group fronted by Harris and a think tank producing policy papers had stretched the organization too thin. It will now focus on founder-led initiatives including public education, targeted briefings, and private coordination. ## Litigation and research work eliminated Functions such as assisting in litigation and evaluating AI tools will be eliminated. The board did not specify an exact number of layoffs in its announcement. ## Board chair explains the pivot Board chair Premal Shah said in a statement: "This moment of accelerated AI risk demands we focus on one strategy, and we have chosen to focus on what we have always done best so that we can meet the moment." > This moment of accelerated AI risk demands we focus on one strategy, and we have chosen to focus on what we have always done best so that we can meet the moment. ## Harris shifts focus to AI dangers In recent years, Harris has joined a growing chorus warning of risks posed by advanced artificial intelligence, warning of a potential AI takeover if the software evades control. He told NBC News last month: "We have to act right now before it's too late." > We have to act right now before it's too late. ## Center's AI advocacy work expands The center encouraged people to sign a major petition to pause AI development and helped organize a hearing in Congress about the dangers of chatbots. It also advised on lawsuits probing AI labs, including an ongoing case against OpenAI by parents of a teenager who died by suicide after interacting with ChatGPT. ## Harris stars in Netflix AI documentary Harris starred in a documentary released on Netflix last month called The AI Doc, which urges viewers to demand that Congress intervene to protect the public from the technology's risks. ## Organization faces funding competition Founded in 2017, the Center for Humane Technology competes with well-established nonprofits and numerous newer entrants for funding and attention to shape AI policy. It has an annual budget of roughly six million dollars and a similar amount in reserves, funded by wealthy families and foundations. ## Former employees fear resource shift As the center doubles down on Harris, former employees fear resources might be diverted away from addressing what they believe are more pressing concerns about AI's impact on democracy and civil liberties. ## Debate over celebrity versus institutions Gail Barnes, who advised the center on social media strategy, says the board is dropping work that was supposed to convert Harris' fame into durable pressure. She argues the question is whether the binding constraint on AI is that people haven't heard the argument or that the argument has no institutional teeth. ## Critics say change needs institutions A leader at another nonprofit says the shift away from litigation and policy work is disappointing. "Change comes from movements and democracy, not celebrities and backrooms," the person says. Some former employees joke the organization will resemble the "Center of Helping Tristan." > Change comes from movements and democracy, not celebrities and backrooms. ## Key takeaway The Center for Humane Technology laid off nine of its sixteen non-founder staff and ended policy research and litigation work to focus on founder-led initiatives, raising questions about whether celebrity advocacy can drive institutional change.