Funder: Future of Life Institute
Due Dates (Anticipated): November 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Tuition and fees for 5 years, possible extension funding, $40,000 annual stipend at US, UK, and Canadian universities, and $10,000 for research expenses
Summary: Supports PhD research on AI governance and cooperation to reduce risks arising from US-China competition in artificial intelligence.
Key Information: Designed for PhD students planning US-China AI governance research, including existing students who would otherwise lack funding for this work.
Description
The Future of Life Institute’s US-China AI Governance PhD Fellowships support research on reducing risks in US-China relations in artificial intelligence. A central priority is understanding how global governance can mitigate AI competition that encourages countries to cut corners on safety when developing and deploying advanced systems. Relevant work includes political conditions for cooperation, lessons from great-power cooperation on other technologies, and characteristics of AI that help or hinder bilateral engagement.
A second priority is examining existing US-China AI governance collaboration and identifying areas or institutions where stronger interaction could help. Research may compare national approaches to AI risk management or assess institutional designs for cooperation and interventions beyond direct engagement. Potential mechanisms include international norms, soft-law agreements, treaties, standards, new institutions, and third-country roles in reducing competition-related risks.
