Our History

From a shared curiosity about Active Inference to a global open-science institute. Six years of community-driven growth, one year at a time.

Ophthalmoscopic examination, circa 1851
1851
Helmholtz proposes perception as "unconscious inference"
170
years
Free Energy Principle perception-action loop
2022
Friston, Parr & Pezzulo formalise Active Inference
2020
Origins
A group of researchers and enthusiasts met online around a shared interest in Active Inference. The collaboration produced its first publication, "Active Inference & Behaviour Engineering for Teams" (Vyatkin et al., 2020), and the group's first livestream aired on 28 July 2020. From these early conversations about accessibility, rigour, and open science, the Active Inference Lab (ActInfLab) was formed.
2021
First Operations
ActInfLab began formal operations with three organisational units: Education, Communication, and Tools. Dozens of participants from around the world joined through educational livestreams, open-source publishing, and collaborative research. The Active Inference Journal and the Active Inference Ontology project launched, and the quarterly roundtable tradition began. In June, ActInfLab hosted the 1st Applied Active Inference Symposium, featuring Professor Karl Friston.
2022
Institutionalisation
A cohort-based Scientific Advisory Board was established. The foundational textbook "Active Inference" by Parr, Pezzulo, and Friston was published by MIT Press, and the Institute launched its Textbook Group (now in its seventh cohort) alongside an internship programme. Mid-year, ActInfLab became The Active Inference Institute, a nonprofit organisation registered in Delaware, with a Board of Directors holding its first meeting at year's end. The 2nd Applied Active Inference Symposium, themed "Robotics", was held.
2023
Growth
The Institute expanded its educational offerings with dedicated Physics and Social Science courses, and launched the Active Inference Insights podcast. Grant research began in earnest. The overview publication "The Active Inference Institute and Active Inference Ecosystem" provided a comprehensive account of the organisation's structure and mission. The 3rd Applied Active Inference Symposium, themed "Enacting Ecosystems of Shared Intelligence", brought the growing community together.
2024
Recognition
The Institute received official 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, achieved with pro bono support from the Fried Frank law firm. A Fellows programme launched to recognise substantial contributions through publications and presentations. The mentorship programme and a formal Prepare & Measure system for tracking participation and impact were introduced. The Scientific Advisory Board welcomed its largest cohort to date, and the 4th Applied Active Inference Symposium was held.
2025
Expansion
The Institute formalised a partnership with BIASlab at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), bridging academic research in message-passing inference with the Institute's open-science mission. The AICACP project secured the Institute's first funded grant. In November, the 5th Applied Active Inference Symposium, themed "Industry", brought together 45+ presenters across 30+ hours of sessions, with Karl Friston as keynote speaker.
2026
Today
The Institute enters 2026 with a ten-member Board of Directors, over 35 Scientific Advisory Board members in its fifth cohort, seven Research Fellows, and 26+ active projects spanning education, research, and tool development. In March, MIT Press publishes "Fundamentals of Active Inference" by Sanjeev V. Namjoshi, an engineering-focused textbook developed in collaboration with the Institute since 2023 and endorsed by Karl Friston. Interactive simulations accompany the original textbook, the community continues to grow across Discord, YouTube, and collaborative research, and planning is underway for the 6th Applied Active Inference Symposium.

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