Future of Life Institute: Vitalik Buterin Postdoctoral Fellowship in AI Existential Safety

Future of Life Institute: Vitalik Buterin Postdoctoral Fellowship in AI Existential Safety

Eligibility: To be eligible, applicants should identify a mentor (typically a professor) at the host institution (typically a university) who commits in writing to mentor and support the applicant in their AI existential safety research if a Fellowship is awarded. There are no geographic limitations on applicants or host universities. 

Deadline Month: January

Description: The Future of Life (FIL) Vitalik Buterin Postdoctoral Fellowship in AI Existential Safety is designed to support promising researchers for postdoctoral appointments who plan to work on AI existential safety research. FIL defines AI existential safety research as: a) research that analyzes the most probable ways in which AI technology could cause an existential catastrophe (that is: a catastrophe that permanently and drastically curtails humanity’s potential, such as by causing human extinction), and which types of research could minimize existential risk (the risk of such catastrophes); b) technical research which could, if successful, assist humanity in reducing the existential risk posed by highly impactful AI technology to extremely low levels. Fellows receive an annual stipend and a fund for research expenses.