No. You should have equivalent context, whether through previous programmes, independent study, or relevant professional experience.
The Alignment Desk
A writing accelerator for AI safety
The Alignment Desk is a structured writing programme for people in Cambridge with existing exposure to AI safety who want to produce and publish serious work.
Every Saturday starting 6 February 2025 and running for the duration of Lent term, a small cohort meets at the Meridian Office. Participants work on their own projects, set weekly goals, and hold each other accountable. Each participant is expected to publish four pieces of work over the term.
Why writing?
Writing forces you to confront gaps in your understanding that remain hidden when you are just reading or thinking. It is also how people in this community come to know your work.
For many aspiring writers, the biggest challenge isn't a shortage of ideas, but turning those ideas into finished pieces. Developing a habit of regular output is often what makes the difference between wanting to contribute and actually doing so.
"Writing is the single biggest difference-maker between reading a lot and efficiently developing real views on important topics."
Holden Karnofsky, Learning By Writing
Who this is for
The Alignment Desk is best suited to people who already have context in AI safety, whether technical or governance, and want to develop and publish ideas relevant to the field. This may include people aiming for research, policy, operations, communications, or other AI safety adjacent roles.
Applicants who are earlier in their AI safety journey but have strong adjacent experience may be considered on a case-by-case basis. If in doubt, please err on the side of applying.
What this is
Dedicated writing time
Weekly Saturday sessions at the Meridian Office. Quiet, structured, and distraction-light. Whiteboards are available in separate rooms for collaboration.
Accountability
You commit to a project at the start of term and report progress each week. The cohort is small, and progress is visible.
Fast feedback
During breaks, participants can sanity-check arguments, get quick red-teams, or talk through ideas that are stuck.
Access to the ecosystem
Where useful, we can help connect participants with researchers, policy professionals, or others in the Cambridge AI safety community. We will also invite relevant experts into the office to give feedback on drafts.
Clear output expectations
Four published pieces by the end of term. Imperfect and published beats perfect and private.
What kind of projects?
We are flexible on format. What matters is that you have a concrete output in mind. Examples include:
A literature review of a technical or governance topic
An interactive explainer or tutorial
A steelman or red-team of a research agenda
An original argument, research note, or proposal
A distillation of existing work for a new audience
A public reflection on career plans or uncertainties
What we expect from you
Attend consistently
We meet every Saturday during Lent term. Occasional conflicts are fine, but consistent attendance is expected.
Arrive with a project
You should come to the first session with at least a working idea of what you are writing and who it is for.
Use the time seriously
Most of each session should be spent in focused work towards your deliverables.
Logistics
When
Every Saturday starting 6 February 2025, for the duration of Lent term
Where
Meridian Office, Cambridge
Time
To be coordinated with participants
Cost
Free. Lunch or dinner will be provided.
Cohort size
Small. This is a pilot programme.
The structure may evolve based on what works.
Applications are open
Rolling admissions. We'll close the form once spots fill up, so apply sooner rather than later.
Final deadline: Sunday, 25 January (end of day GMT)
FAQ
You may still apply. We can help you scope a project, but you should be ready to commit to one by the first session.
Yes. If you are applying with another participant on a joint project, mention this in your application.
That is up to you. Common options include LessWrong, the Alignment Forum, Substack, or a personal blog. We care that the work is published somewhere.
Occasional absences are fine. If you already expect to miss multiple sessions, this is likely not the right programme for you.