In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms and automation, one question often gets lost in the data: Are we flourishing? Not just surviving, but truly thriving—individually and collectively.

That’s the question at the heart of the Global Flourishing Study (GFS), one of the most ambitious research efforts ever launched to understand the well-being of humanity at scale. A collaboration between researchers at Harvard, Baylor, Gallup, the Center for Open Science (COS) and many other institutions, the study has been intentionally building a treasure trove of insights—tracking over 200,000 people across 22 countries over five years to answer what makes life worth living.

What makes this initiative truly groundbreaking isn’t just its scale. It’s the radical openness of its approach.

Recently, in DC at the Gallup HQ, a community of researchers, scientists, faith leaders, policymakers, and educators gathered to discuss the latest insights from the Global Flourishing Study—and to celebrate a major milestone: the release of the newest wave of open-access data.

This isn’t just an academic update; it’s a global invitation.

Whether you're exploring cross-cultural well-being trends, designing policy interventions, building human-centered AI models, or crafting new curricula, this data is now available for you to use in advancing the science—and practice—of human flourishing.

A Global Dataset, Fully Open

In an era where data is often hoarded behind paywalls or locked away in private silos, the Global Flourishing Study is doing the opposite. One of the most powerful aspects of this approach is its unwavering commitment to open science. The full dataset—thousands of variables on physical health, purpose, relationships, character, and more—is being made freely available to anyone.

That means no matter who you are, you now have access to one of the richest resources ever assembled on human well-being.

To ensure responsible and impactful use, the data is being released in phases, allowing time for careful review and responsible stewardship. As of today, the first wave of data is now fully open and unrestricted to the public. Going forward, data from each new wave will be released one year after collection.

The data—and accompanying analytical code—is hosted on the Open Science Framework (OSF), a free, open-source platform maintained by COS. Alongside the dataset, researchers can access a suite of support tools, including multilingual guides, training webinars, preregistration templates, and even one-on-one consultations.

Ready to dive in? Explore the data, submit a preregistration request, and become part of the movement at cos.io/gfs.

Why This Matters Now

We’re entering an age where artificial intelligence is reshaping nearly every aspect of human life—from how we work to how we relate to one another. And yet, when it comes to designing systems that actually promote human flourishing, we’re still flying blind.

What if we could train models not just to predict clicks, but to optimize for purpose, resilience, and joy? What if policymaking could be grounded not just in economic growth, but in a deep understanding of what helps communities thrive? What if educational systems were shaped by evidence on what leads to lasting fulfillment—not just great test scores?

The data now exists to start answering these questions. But only if people like you step up to explore it.

You Can Be Part of the Solution

Whether you're a data scientist, ethicist, community leader, or developer—there’s room for you in this movement. Some ways you could engage:

• Analyze and publish findings that contribute to public discourse around mental health, family, purpose, and more

• Explore AI applications that go beyond utility—and start aiming for human wholeness

• Use the data in your own projects to advance the well-being of humans in all that you are doing.

And if you’re part of a startup, nonprofit, or academic initiative working at the intersection of tech and humanity, this dataset could be a springboard for something transformative.

The Big Problem No One Is Solving (Yet)

AI is great at optimizing what we measure. The trouble is, we’ve mostly measured attention, engagement, and efficiency. But what if we started measuring flourishing—and building toward it?

The Global Flourishing Study is the scaffolding we need to begin. It’s the raw material for a future where technology isn’t just smart, but wise—rooted in the reality of what makes life meaningful.

So here’s the call: if you have an idea—big or small—that could help advance human flourishing, now is the time to act. The data is open. The need is urgent. And the opportunity? Limitless.

Let’s not leave the most important problem of our generation unsolved.

This article was written by multiple voices on the Gloo AI team, including Nick Skytland, Alex Cook, and Ali Llewellyn.