AI policy needs technical experts.
A fully funded eight-day program for technical AI safety professionals who want to put their expertise to work in policy. No policy experience required.
Applications for the October cohort are open. Deadline: Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 11:59 PM PDT.
The US government has to navigate the arrival of transformative AI, and far too few of the people shaping its response understand the technology. The Longitude DC Intensive gives you eight days in Washington, DC to see where your expertise can make a difference, and to take your next steps to get there.
Over eight days, you will upskill in the foundations of US AI policy, gain an understanding of US policy work, invest in building a DC network, and plan your next steps.
The first days build your foundations: how the US government works, where AI policy stands right now, and how to talk about AI safety in DC.
Next, you explore the breadth of policy careers through hands-on workshops. This deepens your understanding of working in AI policy.
Along the way, you meet professionals from a variety of policy organizations in talks, lunch discussions and evening socials.
After the Intensive, we support you to make your move into policy as smooth and quick as possible by connecting you to organizations, fellowships and openings – provided AI policy is where you want to go next.
First speakers will be announced soon.
We are looking for impact-driven people with a technical background and AI safety context, curious where their expertise could matter in policy.
You understand how frontier AI systems are built and trained, whether from AI safety work, a technical degree, or research.
You have engaged with AI safety and can reason about why frontier AI risks matter.
You do not need policy experience, but you are open to bringing your technical expertise into the policy ecosystem.
You want to reduce catastrophic risks from AI and think that policy work could help contribute to this.
You hold an undergraduate degree or above, and ideally bring at least several years of professional experience, inside or outside AI safety.
You bring excellent verbal and written communication skills and can tailor your communication to various audiences.
These are not hard criteria and we would much rather get your application than have you rule yourself out. If in doubt, apply.
Applications for the October cohort close on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 11:59 PM PDT.
Participation is free. We cover the program itself, housing in DC, meals on program days, and travel from within the US. If you join from abroad, we may ask you to contribute to your flight, with the details agreed before you accept your spot.
You should have a genuine technical background, from a degree, research, or hands-on work, and be able to explain how frontier AI systems are built and trained. Years of professional or research experience is a plus, but not a requirement.
We expect an undergraduate degree at the minimum. Beyond that, some years of work or research experience make the move into governance work easier and we weigh them positively, but they are not a hard requirement.
No. We aim to be an onramp into the policy world; you do not need prior policy experience or deep policy knowledge.
It depends on how far along you are on this path. If you are already in a policy role or a fellowship like Horizon or TechCongress, this program will not add much for you. But if you are fairly sure you want policy and just do not know what the roles actually look like or how to get into them, the eight days can give you that overview and network.
The last day is dedicated to next steps: career mapping, 1:1s, application planning, and warm intros. If you decide to pursue a governance career, we will support you in taking the next concrete steps through optional advising and intros.
A short written application and one interview. Applications for the October cohort are open until Wednesday, August 12, 2026, 11:59 PM PDT, and you can apply here.
If you know someone who'd be a great fit for the Longitude DC Intensive, send us a referral through this short form. We follow up on every referral.
Yes, as long as you are currently based in the US. Many DC policy roles at think tanks and nonprofits do not require citizenship, while most government positions do, and we will map what is open to you during the program. US citizens who are temporarily living abroad can also apply. We will not accept applicants who are neither US citizens nor based in the US.
In 1714, the British Parliament passed the Longitude Act. Ships and crews were being lost because nobody could measure longitude at sea, a problem the government knew mattered but could not solve from within. The answer came from technical talent: John Harrison, a self-taught clockmaker, built a clock precise enough to keep London time on a rolling ship. AI policy is at a similar moment, and the hardest problems will not be solved without people who understand the technology in the room.