MAIA AI Safety Fundamentals Fellowship Fall 2026 at MIT AI Alignment
Brief Description
The MAIA AI Safety Fundamentals Fellowship is the flagship introductory reading group hosted by MIT AI Alignment to help participants examine why AI safety matters and how researchers and policymakers address modern AI risks. If you want to explore the trajectory of artificial intelligence and build foundational technical or policy context, this eight-week program provides a structured pathway. You will engage with key topics including empirical evidence for misalignment, threat models, technical safety strategies, and career pathways in the field. Sections of around 10 fellows meet weekly with two experienced facilitators, and no extra work is assigned outside of reading group sessions, allowing you to participate alongside a standard course or work schedule.
Name of Host Institution
MIT AI Alignment (MAIA)
Requirements/Eligibility Criteria
Open to anyone globally interested in AI safety research and policy.
Preference is given to MIT undergraduate and graduate students.
Applicants with machine learning experience are strongly encouraged to apply.
No prior technical background is strictly required, only curiosity and willingness to engage with open questions.
Duration
8 weeks, beginning the week of September 28, 2026.
Benefits
Direct facilitation by experienced MAIA members with backgrounds in AI safety research.
In-person fall and spring weekly meetings held in the office include dinner.
Zero out-of-session coursework assigned beyond weekly meeting discussions.
Exploration of research, policy environments, and potential career opportunities in AI safety.
No prior technical background is required. While applicants with machine learning experience are encouraged, anyone willing to engage with hard, open questions in AI safety is eligible to apply.
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