Student-run · Across upstate New York

A network for getting started in AI safety.

We help students at universities across upstate New York get started in AI safety, on both the technical and the policy side. Find a group on your campus, or start one with us. No background needed.

Join the network Find a group near you →

Campuses we’re building with

  • Cornell
  • University of Rochester
  • RIT
  • Binghamton
  • Buffalo
  • Syracuse

What we do

Rooted on campus, connected across the region.

We support people who want to start or grow campus AI safety groups, and we connect those groups with one another, so a curious student at one campus can find peers, reading groups and opportunities across the region.

Connect what exists

We map the AI safety clubs and reading groups already active across the region, and link them up.

Help new groups start

Where a campus has interest but no group yet, we’ll help you get one started.

Bring everyone together

We meet in person: a small launch retreat this November, then larger events that rotate between cities.

Campuses

AI safety is already happening here.

Students and researchers across the region already run AI safety groups. We connect them and help new ones start. Here’s where things stand, and where the next groups could be.

Active group

Cornell AI Alignment

Ithaca · Cornell University

A student-led club running alignment fellowships, technical reading groups and research support for undergrad and grad students.

Visit cornell-aia.org ↗
Group forming

Rochester

University of Rochester · RIT

Where the network started. A lasting local group is forming around the launch.

Get involved →
Group forming

Buffalo

University at Buffalo

Local researchers and practitioners are interested. We’re looking for organizers to anchor a Buffalo group.

Help start it →
Group forming

Syracuse

Syracuse University · SUNY Upstate

Policy and biology communities to draw from. A Syracuse group is waiting to be started.

Help start it →
Group forming

Binghamton

Binghamton University

Responsible-AI and agent-safety research is already underway. A natural place for the next group.

Help start it →

Anywhere upstate

Your campus

Don’t see your school? Tell us, and we’ll help you get a group started.

Start a group

Active groups are independent student groups, shown here as examples of AI safety activity in the region. Listing isn’t an endorsement or a formal affiliation. Running a group we should feature? Tell us.

Who it’s for

New to AI safety? This is built for you.

Students and researchers in AI, computer science, policy, philosophy and the sciences, at any level of experience. No background in AI safety or machine learning needed.

We read work from computer science, policy, law and philosophy. Technical and policy paths are both welcome.

  • Students

    Undergrad and grad students curious about AI risk. Come to learn, build or just explore.

  • Researchers

    Faculty, PhD students and lab members working on or near AI and its risks.

  • Builders

    Local engineers, startups and open-source contributors who want to build something safety-relevant.

  • Policy & humanities

    Policy, philosophy, law and social-science people thinking about governance and impact.

Launch retreat · Finger Lakes, NY

Three days on AI safety in the Finger Lakes.

Sixteen students and researchers from across the region, together at a lake house from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. Two strands, technical and governance, and everyone takes part in every session. Lodging, meals and travel are covered.

See the program

Applications closed October 16.

Fri

13

Nov

Sat

14

Nov

Sun

15

Nov

16 participants · Fully funded · No background needed

Why it matters

AI is getting more capable fast. Come help figure out how to make it go well.

Students across the region are excited about AI, but few local groups connect that energy to making it safe. We want a standing on-ramp into the field: a network that keeps making connections, not a one-off event.

  1. 01

    Find people

    Meet students and researchers across the region who want to work seriously on safety, and stay in touch.

  2. 02

    Do real work

    Turn meetups and events into demos, evaluations and proposals worth continuing.

  3. 03

    Build something lasting

    Grow a web of local groups that meets all year, not just once.

Get involved

Three ways in.

Join the network

Tell us who you are and what you’re curious about. We’ll keep you posted on reading groups and meetups near you.

Join the network

Join the Slack

Most of the organizing happens in our Slack, with people from every campus in the network. Open to anyone in the region.

Join the Slack

Start a group

Interested in AI safety, but there’s no group at your school yet? We’ll help you get one started.

Start a group