BAIST’s 7-week AI safety policy program is a structured reading group on the foundational policy and governance issues posed by current and future advanced AI systems.
Experts have voiced concerns about the potentially catastrophic impact that advanced AI systems could have. This program focuses on understanding these extreme risks, as well as ideas for addressing them through domestic and international policy.
We will discuss questions such as:
How much progress in AI should we expect over the next few years?
What risks could arise from the misuse or misalignment of advanced AI systems?
Is there an AI arms race?
How can we audit future AI systems to understand the extent of their capabilities?
How have different countries reacted to the advent of ChatGPT and other generative AIs?
You can see the topics and readings we will do each week in the program’s syllabus.
For those interested in the technical side of AI safety, we recommend applying to our technical program. People can participate in both programs.
If you’re already familiar with this material, consider applying for membership instead.
Apply here by September 16th, 2024 23:59 (AOE)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is prior experience expected?
No. Although having experience in AI, policy, or other relevant areas will enrich your understanding of these topics, the program is designed to be understandable and useful without significant prior knowledge. If you are already familiar with the material in the syllabus, contact us at team@BAIST.ai to discuss other ways of getting involved.
What will be the outcomes of participating?
The program aims to equip you with the knowledge to begin a career in AI safety policy. We will share relevant internship and job opportunities throughout and after the semester, and we will provide a completion certificate upon completion of the program.
Who can participate?
All Brown University students are welcome to apply. This includes undergraduate and graduate students from all backgrounds and concentrations.
When and where will the meetings be held?
We will try to find a time that works with everyone’s schedule to meet on campus (location TBD). We will meet once a week for two hours, with dinner or lunch provided.
What is the time commitment?
Two hours per week for seven weeks (ends well before finals period). That is the duration of our weekly meetings (roughly one hour reading together and one hour of discussion), and no work or reading is required beyond these meetings.
How competitive is the application?
We hope to accept everyone who is genuinely interested in exploring the field of AI safety, but this may not be possible due to our limited capacity.