AI Safety Quest

Many people want to help with AI Safety, but don’t know where to start. AI Safety Quest is designed to help new people more easily navigate the AI Safety ecosystem, connect with like-minded people and find projects that are a good fit for their skills.We offer help in 3 main ways:

  1. Navigation Calls for 1-on-1 advice

  2. Mentorship to match emerging talents with seasoned mentors

  3. Quest Parties to help you form/join a team to work and/or learn together (no active cohorts at this time)

Learn more about us or volunteer with us.

Navigation Calls

AI Safety Quest offers advising calls to people who are committed to reducing catastrophic risk around the development of AI. In these calls, we learn about your interests and background. We aim to understand the unique challenges you are facing. Based on that information, we direct you to the most relevant resources and communities in the ecosystem.We target these calls at people who:

  1. Believe AI may pose a catastrophic risk (lead to harm on a large scale including widespread damage, loss of life, and suffering)

  2. Have a basic understanding of what is meant by AI Safety and AI Alignment

  3. Are planning on volunteering or working in the field

To apply for a 1 on 1 call please fill out the form below

Volunteer with Quest

AI Safety Quest is a fully volunteer-based organization. We are excited about our ambitious mission of providing infinitely scalable onboarding, advising, and group learning coordination to promote AI safety. Recognizing that these challenges require collaboration across diverse perspectives and backgrounds, we welcome those who share our concern for AI as an x-risk. Whether you have a technical background or not, we invite you to explore opportunities to make a significant impact with us. Our needs span various areas, including:

  1. Recruiting, onboarding, and managing volunteers

  2. Community management

  3. Content creation and communications

  4. Administrative and operational support

  5. IT, systems, and automation support

Current openings

  1. Navigation Call Program Manager - Application closed on 2024-09-02. New roles to be released soon.

  2. Mentorship Program Volunteer - Rolling applications. We plan to offer interviews on August 2 and schedule the interviews the week of August 5. Applications are now closed. Thank you to those who looked and applied!

  3. Expression of Interest We will make the interest form available when all open roles have been filled. Unfortunately, we do not have recruiting bandwidth to monitor this while we are actively recruiting.

(Note: A Google sign-in is required to apply for our roles because our form allows for the attachment of scrolls—or files, if you prefer.)

About us

We are a team of volunteers who believe we need many more people working on reducing the risk around AI. We gathered around Alignment Ecosystem Development and started Quest in early 2023.Please feel free to email us at hello at aisafety dot quest or fill out the anonymous feedback form.

Current Team Members

  1. Alex - Software Engineer currently working in finance, interested in making AI's not be uncool to humans

  2. Brooke - A medical assistant hoping to do something meaningful with her career. Concerned about ai safety and biorisk.

  3. Chris - works part-time in IT and cybersecurity. He is interested in AI governance, making vegetarian Indian dals, and inline skating.

  4. Eric (plex) - free agent working on many projects in the alignment ecosystem.

  5. Heinel - Multitalented volunteer filling in for AI Safety, LGBT Pride, and Mental Health Awareness.

  6. Joseph - Reliability Engineer with expertise in data analysis, facilitation, incident investigation, technical writing, and more. Currently studying deep learning and cataloguing EA projects and AI safety efforts.

  7. Marcel - A former IP lawyer and tech enthusiastic currently working on the intersection between technology and law, passionate about AI governance and particularly about how to safely integrate AI into our everyday life enhancing its benefits and minimising risks.

  8. Ricky - A manager for a team of developer advocates. When he’s not fiddling with Quest logo, you can find him on a rugby pitch or tending his balcony garden.

  9. Vy - a software engineer at day and a volunteer at night, helping to align humans and AGIs so we can live in harmony.

  10. Vishakha - a nomadic early-career generalist. She is interested in AI safety, Global Priorities Research and forecasting.

Former Team Members

  1. Alex - previously a management consultant, but now switched to helping grow the alignment ecosystem. Also interested in AI governance/policy.

  2. Jonathan - a previous mechanical engineer with 7 years of experience. Also passionate about AI governance, forecasting, and GPR (Global Priorities Research).

  3. Sophia - a writer and editor who wants to solve alignment so she can be eternally youthful and travel the galaxy.

Quest Parties

Want to improve your understanding and skills? Learn more about Technical AI Safety with the AI Safety Quest team.

Welcome AI Safety enthusiasts! Applications for Quest Parties are currently closed, but we look forward to offering another round soon.

Several people smiling on a previous quest party video call

One of our pilot quest parties

Quest Parties FAQ

Who is AI Safety Quest?AI Safety Quest is a team of volunteers who are working to reduce existential risk from artificial intelligence through community building and education. We provide one on one “Navigation Calls” to provide people with AI Safety Resources, and are now expanding into “Quest Parties” to help more people improve their understanding of AI Safety. See also About us.What is a Quest Party?Quest Parties are small groups of people who are participating in a shared activity over the course of a few months. For the pilot program, we’ll be going through the AI Safety Fundamentals alignment curriculum, which runs for 12 weeks, which includes 8 weeks of cohort-based reading and 4 weeks of capstone-project.Do Quest Parties only cover the AGI-SF Syllabus?In the future, Quest Parties will explore a wide variety of topics related to AI Safety (e.g., maybe a group runs through the governance curriculum, or somebody decides to lead a series of Mechanistic Interpretability workshops.) Quest Parties should meet for 1-2 hours each week, with 2+ hours of reading and/or activities in between each meeting. We anticipate that the average Quest Party will last around 8 weeks.Why should I join a Quest Party?Although there are lots of resources available for learning AI Safety, finding the time and motivation to go through them between school, work, and social commitments can be challenging. Quest Parties give you structured time to go through this content, as well as a community with whom you can discuss the ideas to improve and challenge your own understanding of the content and enjoy some mutual accountability.Can I lead a Quest Party?Absolutely! We are still in a pilot phase, but please let us know if you’re interested in forming a Quest Party in the future. We’d love to have a general idea of what topic you’d like to lead, and then we can help you form a syllabus and handle the logistics of forming a party.I want to learn more about AI Safety, but I don’t come from a technical background/don’t feel like I’d be able to keep up with the course. What should I do?If you’re interested in contributing to AI Safety, we want to help you make that happen! If the more technical side isn’t your thing, there are still many ways you can help. AI Safety is critically short of operations people (the people who do the admin, organizing and generally make sure that stuff happens.) AI Safety Quest is always up for new people joining and helping us run navigation calls and keep everything running smoothly with our admin, etc. If you want to learn at your own time and pace, we can send you a list of learning resources to help get you started. Get in touch with us for a Navigation call and we’ll discuss how your unique skills can help the field.

AI Safety Mentorship Program

Sorry, applications are now closed. Because this program is currently in pilot stage, we are awaiting results of the pilot before we schedule another round. Stay tuned for updates.A joint initiative with Sci.STEPS, the AI Safety Mentorship Program is designed to bridge the gap between emerging talents and seasoned professionals in the rapidly evolving field of AI Safety. Over the course of three months, our program offers a unique opportunity for individuals passionate about ensuring the ethical development and deployment of AI technologies to learn, share, and grow together.Our Mission
We aim to reduce the risks posed by misaligned artificial intelligence by cultivating a community of informed and skilled AI Safety researchers and advocates. To do this, we connect people looking to learn more about a field of study with mentors who have expertise in that field.

Vector art suggesting one person supporting another

For Potential Mentors
Are you an experienced professional in AI Safety, policy, or community-building? Your expertise can light the way for the next generation of AI Safety practitioners. As a mentor, you will:

  1. Share your knowledge and experience, guiding mentees through challenges and opportunities in your field.

  2. Expand your network and collaborate with other AI Safety professionals.

  3. Contribute to the development of safe AI by nurturing future leaders and researchers.

For Potential Mentees
Do you aspire to make a significant impact in AI Safety? Our mentorship program offers you the chance to:
Learn from established professionals about the intricacies of AI Safety.
Gain practical advice and insights to navigate your career path.
Connect with peers and professionals, building a strong network in the AI Safety community.
Program Structure
Duration: 3 months, with the possibility of extending the mentorship relationship beyond the program.
Pairing Process: Mentors and mentees will be thoughtfully matched based on their interests, expertise, and professional goals.
Support System: The program provides resources and support for both mentors and mentees to ensure a productive and enriching experience. Regular check-ins and feedback sessions will be conducted to monitor progress.
The overall plan for the pilot program in 2024:

  1. Call for mentors. Complete!

  2. Invite mentees. After we find and select mentors, we will open applications for prospective mentees. Apply here!

  3. Match pairs based on the mentor’s background and mentee's request. This will be done in July.

  4. Start the program. We activate and share community spaces, announce pairs, and conduct a kick-off event in late July. We will connect mentor-mentee pairs and offer guidance on effective meetings.

  5. Maintain contact with pairs throughout the program. Organize webinars and conduct periodic check-ins.

  6. Wrap up and survey participants for feedback in late October.

Our Mentors

Generalist Role Description

Troubleshooting: If the iFrame above is not loading correctly, you can access the job description here and the application form here.Questions? We have a FAQ page for this role.

Scroll of Enquiries (FAQ) for the Generalist at AI Safety Quest 🐉

  1. Who are the Guildmasters of AI Safety Quest?

  2. Any important dates to mark down?

  3. What's the journey to become a Generalist like?

  4. What if I'm in a different time zone?

  5. I'm busy until later. Should I still apply?

  6. What skills will I gain from this role?

  7. How many hours a week should I commit?

  8. What kind of projects will I work on?

  9. Can I ask more questions?

Answers

Who are the Guildmasters of AI Safety Quest? 🏰Hey there, noble adventurer! We're a dedicated team of volunteers, on a mission to protect the realm from the risks of AI. We do this by building and supporting the community. We offer "Navigation Calls" to guide you through AI safety, "Tavern Time" for swapping ideas and stories, and "Quest Parties" for deeper learning. Want to know more? Check out About us.

Any important dates to mark down? 📅Absolutely! Circle September 13th on your calendar—that's our application deadline. We're eager to welcome our next Generalist by early October!

What's the journey to become a Generalist like? 🚀1️⃣ First Step: Quick Chat: We'll start with a casual chat to talk about your interest in AI safety and what you can contribute.2️⃣ Second Step: Trial Task: Next, you'll take on a small quest that'll take about 2 hours. It's a great way for both of us to gauge if the fit is right.3️⃣ Final Step: Follow-up Chat: After your trial task, we'll have another chat to discuss how things went and whether we're ready to embark on this quest together!

What if I'm in a different time zone? ⏰No worries! As long as you can join our meetings during US Eastern Time, you're good to go.

I'm busy until later. Should I still apply? 📜While we're aiming to start our next Generalist in October, we have openings throughout the year. So feel free to apply for future terms!

What skills will I gain from this role? 🛠️You'll gain hands-on experience in project management, leadership, and effective communication—all in a fully remote setting.

How many hours a week should I commit? ⏳The role is flexible. You can go for part-time or full-time, but we're looking for at least a 10-hour weekly commitment.

What kind of projects will I work on? 🗺️From community building to managing internal operations, you'll be involved in various quests that shape our organization!

Can I ask more questions?By all means, yes. Please email us at hello at the same URL we're at right now. Or fill out the anonymous feedback form.

Mentorship Program Volunteer - Role Description

Troubleshooting: If the iFrame above is not loading correctly, you can access the job description here and the application form here.

FAQ

Any important dates to mark down?Applications are rolling, but we plan to offer interviews on August 2 and schedule them the week of August 5.


What's the journey to achieve this role?
Fill out the application form. For promising candidates, you’ll have a short interview with our team. The selected candidate will begin contributing to this exciting project as soon after the interview as possible.


What if I'm in a different time zone?
No problem, most of our work is done asynchronously.


I'm busy until later. Should I still apply?
This adventure should begin as soon as possible because the pilot is already in progress.


What skills will I gain from this role?
Operational skills. Measurement and evaluation. Startup skills. Deeper understanding of the shape of the AIS community and challenges faced by beginners in this rapidly changing field.


Can I ask more questions?
By all means, yes. Please email us at “hello” at the same URL we're at right now. Or fill out the anonymous feedback form.

Navigation Call Program Manager - Role Description

Troubleshooting: If the iFrame above is not loading correctly, you can access the job description here and the application form here.

FAQ

Any important dates to mark down?Applications are rolling, but we plan begin interviews on August 21. We believe it is advantageous to apply early because the first applications get the most attention.

What's the journey to achieve this role?
The dates below are estimates and could change based on the quality and volume of applications we receive.
1. Fill out the application form.
2. Have a short interview with our team. (August 26)
3. Perform a work task so we can get a sense of your work. (September 4)
4. Have an interview with AI Safety Quest's Vice President (who manages all PMs). (September 15)
5. Offer sent to top candidate (September 22)

What if I'm in a different time zone?Availability during US Eastern Time business hours is required because most of our customers and volunteers are currently spread across European and American time zones.

I'm busy until later. Should I still apply?We anticipate future openings for Navigators and potentially an operations volunteer for this program.

What skills will I gain from this role?Leadership and project management skills. Measurement and evaluation. Startup skills. Deeper understanding of the shape of the AIS community and challenges faced by beginners in this rapidly changing field.

Can I ask more questions?By all means, yes. Please email us at “hello” at the same domain we're at right now. Or fill out our anonymous feedback form.