AI Governance Fast-Track
Despite AI’s potential to radically improve human society, there are still active debates about how we will wield the AI systems of today and tomorrow. The rise of this powerful technology demands a thoughtful approach to its governance and regulation.
The AI Governance Fast-Track is an intensive 5-day course designed to accelerate your understanding of key concepts in AI governance and policy. This course will give you space to engage with, evaluate, and debate these ideas. You’ll meet others who are excited to help mitigate risks from future AI systems, and explore opportunities for your next steps in the field.
We’re accepting applications on a rolling basis and have 20 spots available per course. Apply now to secure your place!
Why do the course
You’ll learn about the state of the field. We’ll cover the policies governing AI in leading research labs and governments. Then, we’ll examine the key debates facing policy professionals.
Your learning is facilitated by experts. Your facilitator will help you navigate the course content, develop your own views on each topic, and foster constructive debate between you and fellow participants.
You’ll be learning alongside others. Your group will be made up of people who are similarly new to AI governance, but who will bring a wealth of different expertise and perspectives to your discussions. Many participants form long-lasting and meaningful connections, that support them to take their first steps in the field.
You’ll be supported to take your next steps. This could involve applying for programmes and jobs, or doing further independent study. We maintain relationships with a large network of organisations and will share opportunities with you. Additionally, with your permission, we can help make connections between you and recruiters at top organisations.
You’ll join 2000+ course alumni. We’ve helped thousands of people learn via our AI Safety Fundamentals courses. You’ll gain access to this network, and to many others who join in future rounds of the course.
Who this course is for
We think this course will particularly be able to help you if:
- Have a foundational understanding of machine learning concepts, such as neural networks and AI development drivers (algorithms, data, compute). If not, you might want to apply to our Intro to Transformative AI course instead.
- Are a policy professional and need to learn about AI governance rapidly. You might be facing unexpected questions about how AI affects your policy area.
- Are a technical professional looking to transition into AI governance. You have a basic understanding of governance and policy and want to build a foundation for your career pivot.
- Are a student seriously considering a career in AI governance and have previously studied corporate, national, or international governance.
If none of these sound like you, but you’re still interested in AI governance and policy we still encourage you to apply. The field needs people from a range of backgrounds and disciplines, and we can’t capture all of them in this list.
What this course is not
This course might not be right for you if you are looking for:
- A course covering general information about how governments work. We presume you have basic policy knowledge. If questions like “how a bill becomes a law” are unclear to you, this course may not be the best fit.
- A course covering the foundations of transformative AI, including its technical underpinnings, potential benefits, or risks. If you’d like the answer to these questions, our Intro to Transformative AI course will likely be a better fit.
- A course covering technical AI safety research to reduce risks from advanced AI systems. Our AI Alignment and AI Alignment Fast Track courses cover this information thoroughly.
- A less intensive course. If you don’t have 15 hours to spare, our 12-week AI Governance course requires a lower weekly time commitment.
Course Structure
This course runs for 5 consecutive days with curated readings and facilitated discussions. The time commitment for the week is around 15 hours, so you can engage with the course alongside full-time work or study.
During the course, you’ll work through the course curriculum, which is an adapted version of our AI Safety Fundamentals: Governance course curriculum.
Each day involves 2 hours of independent learning, plus a 1.5 hour facilitated group discussion (via video call, which we’ll arrange at a time that suits you).
The facilitated group discussions are where you work through activities with your group of around 5 other participants. These units are facilitated by an expert in AI governance, who can help you navigate the field and answer questions.
If accepted onto the course, we’ll ask for your availability so we can find a time slot that suits you (including evening or weekend facilitated group discussions). There’s flexibility to change facilitated group discussions in case your availability changes.
Compared to studying the curriculum independently, participants tell us they really value the facilitated group discussions as the facilitator helps create an engaging discussion space, the activities are designed to enable effective learning, and you develop deep relationships with highly motivated peers.
Dates
The course runs from Monday to Friday. We will close applications on the Thursday before the course starts and make application decisions by the Friday before the course starts.
We will likely run more rounds of the course, but for now, these are the confirmed dates.
2025 January
- 5 January: Application deadline
- 10 January: Final application decisions
- 13-17 January: AI Governance Fast Track course begins
Application process
Apply through our online application form, and you should receive an email confirmation a few minutes after you send your application.
We’re accepting applications on a rolling basis and have 20 spots available for the first round of the course.
We will make application decisions by the Friday before the course starts. Do keep an eye on your emails during this time, as if accepted we’ll need you to confirm your place. All legitimate emails regarding the course will come from @bluedot.org.
If you have any questions about applying for the course, do contact us.
Application tips
We take a holistic approach to evaluating applications that consider a number of factors we think are important to getting the most from the course.
That said, there are some general tips that can help ensure you’re putting your best foot forward:
- When talking about projects you’ve done, focus on your specific contributions to those projects, rather than explaining details about the project itself.
- If you include any links in your application, make sure the link is correct and can be accessed publicly. Opening the link in an Incognito or Private Browsing window is a good way to test this. It’s also often helpful to give us a summary of the highlights or takeaways we should get from what you’ve linked us to.
- Before you hit ‘Submit’, review your answers and double check they are answering the question asked. Additionally, make sure your contact information (especially your email address) is correct.
You can find more guidance here.
Requirements
- Completed the Intro to Transformative AI course or equivalent
- Availability 15 hours throughout the week
- A reliable internet connection and webcam (built-in is fine) to join video calls
- English language skills sufficient to constructively engage in facilitated group discussions on technical AI topics
Earning a certificate
If you attend all five facilitated group discussions and complete the required independent learning, you’ll earn a certificate of completion.
Optional payment
There is no mandatory payment for this course. If you would like to, you will have the option at the end of the course to pay an amount that you are comfortable with and that you feel reflects the value that the course has brought to you.
BlueDot Impact Ltd, the organisation that runs this course, is a non-profit based in the UK and is entirely philanthropically funded. This course costs us roughly £600 per participant to run, and any payment you make would be used to subsidise places for future participants on our courses.
Running independent versions of the course
The official course is run by BlueDot Impact – a non-profit that supports people to develop the knowledge, skills and connections they need to pursue a high-impact career.
Friends, workplace groups, student societies and other local organisations are welcome to run versions of our courses. Provided you follow our guidance, you can use the public curriculum and these discussion docs.
Any other questions?
If you’re not sure whether to apply, we recommend that you put in an application. If you have any other questions do contact us!
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Endorsements & testimonials
I participated in the AISF Alignment Course last year and consider it to be the single most useful step I've taken in my career so far. I cannot recommend the program strongly enough.
The AISF Alignment Course was my first real contact with the alignment problem, and I got a lot out of it: I really enjoyed the discussions+content, but more than that I was able to get connected with many people whom I later started working with, enabling me to leave my previous robotics job and transition to full-time alignment research.
This was the most positively impactful course I’ve ever taken (unless you count the high school class in which I got to know my husband!), as it gave me the background to engage with the AI safety and governance communities. I don’t know how I would have gotten up to speed otherwise, and it opened the door to pretty much everything I’ve done professionally for the past couple years.
