2024 Cohort Program | Seattle AI Society

program thesis

Real dialogue starts now

AI research has been making steady progress and has experienced an inflection point in the past few years with the introduction of the transformer architecture and related breakthroughs. For the first time in history, we are discussing the real potential of creating AGI soon.

We are not prepared for the introduction of AGI.

AGI has real existential threats from misalignment with humans. Even if we overcome this alignment problem, we are likely to experience societal disruption on a scale unseen as we renegotiate our social contracts globally. Our philosophy of being will be challenged as many of the traits we have assigned uniquely to humans become a commodity.

We need to be having real discussions on these topics now.

The Seattle AI Society 2024 AGI Transitions Program will gather brilliant minds from across domains, perspectives, and backgrounds to envision a beautiful future for humanity and our world.

program overview

Embark

Starting in early September, select Seattleites will embark on a 12-week journey to reimagine life with AGI.

Envision

Participants will collaborate with expert advisors to delve into one of our key themes, ultimately producing a final project.

Engage

The program culminates in Final Showcase where each group will present their projects to community leaders across industry, academia, and government.

FAQ

What is the Seattle AI Society 2024 AGI Transitions Program?

This a 12-week journey where participants collaborate with expert advisors to explore themes related to transitioning to coexistence with AGI. Participants will form groups, and each group will complete a final project. Think: extended social hackathon meets Y combinator.

When does the program start and end?

The program begins on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, and ends with a Final Showcase on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.

What are the key themes that groups can explore?

The AGI Transitions Program supports the creation of projects that ease the AI transition. These projects should focus on one of three defined themes: Technological Transitions, Personal Transitions, and Societal Transitions. These themes focus on making sure we're moving forward in a way that's good for us, our planet, and our communities.

How many participants will be accepted into the program?

We will accept only a few groups of deeply passionate and engaged individuals. We do not have a set number but expect there to be around 6-10 groups comprised of 3-6 individuals each. We are keeping the program small to ensure every group has the opportunity to work with top tier advisors and present their project to key community stakeholders.

We are actively recruiting team leads who will form their own groups, so if you're interested, please reach out to us at hi@seattleAIsociety.org.

What is the final project?

The final project is a group effort focused on delivering community impact by generating new insights and resources that ultimately elevate public dialogue on AGI. Think: something tangible that can be used by community leaders across academia, industry, or government.

We will provide a framework with suggested activities and milestones, but ultimately it is up to the group to choose their theme and define the specific nature of the project. All groups will be required to present their project during a Finale Showcase to an audience of highly influential local Seattle leaders.

Examples of final projects could be a regulation framework, progress tracker, enumeration of threats, proposed north stars, or custom GPT for stakeholders to use.

What is the time commitment?

The program lasts 12 weeks. We are looking for individuals who can dedicate 10-25 hours per week to make progress towards their final project.

Do I need to live in Seattle?

We strongly recommend (and will prioritize) groups that live locally. The team lead must live locally. Ultimately, everyone in the group must attend the Final Showcase event in-person, which will occur in the Greater Seattle Area.

What is the Final Showcase?

The Final Showcase is an exclusive event at the conclusion of the program. Here, you and your group will present your project to a room of highly influential local Seattle leaders across academia, industry, and government. You will also be paired with key stakeholders relevant to your project for 1:1 time to discuss implementation and further funding of your work.

What support and resources will I have during the program?

Throughout the program, we will provide teams with a high-level framework to guide their inquiry with suggested activities and milestones.

You will be assigned a SAIS representative who will guide you through the process, connect you with expert advisors, and champion your work with community stakeholders.

The SAIS will also host weekly in-person working sessions for teams to get together collaborate, get input from their advisors, and have fun together.

How can I help if I don't want to participate directly?

We are also looking for volunteer staff, expert advisors, and sponsors!

As a volunteer staff, you will have the opportunity to work closely with the SAIS executives to ensure the operational execution of weekly meetups and the Final Showcase event. We estimate this would be 3 hours of your time per week during the duration of the program.

As an expert advisor, you will have the opportunity to mentor and support the individual groups throughout their journey. You'll be assigned a group and meet with them regularly to offer your insights and connections to ensure their success. We estimate this would be 2 hours of your time per week during the duration of the program.

As a sponsor, you can provide monetary or other donations (e.g., food, venue, equipment) to support the program.

If you're interested in any of these roles, please complete this form or email us directly at hi@seattleAIsociety.org.

transition themes

technological

This theme embodies a commitment to leveraging these advanced technologies in a manner that harmonizes with our planet's ecological balance. Underpinning this is a focus on security—ensuring that AGI systems align with human values.

personal

This theme delves into individual growth and identity in an AI-integrated world, highlighting the importance of human values like creativity and emotions. It explores how AI can be a tool for self-improvement and deeper self-understanding.

societal

This theme examines the broader impact of AI on society, advocating for fair and thoughtful integration of AI to enhance collective well-being. It envisions new societal structures where technology fosters better cooperation, decision-making, and community strength.

get involved

Participate

We regularly host get-togethers, coworking days, and happy hours. Please join our group on meetup.com/ai-society to see a list of upcoming activities.
‍
We are actively looking for both participants and team leaders for the AGI Transitions Program starting in September. If you're interested, please complete this brief form or reach out to us directly at hi@seattleAIsociety.org.

Advise

The SAIS welcomes experts to join our board of advisors. Specifically, we are very interested in those with deep knowledge across specialties like psychology, anthropology, sociology, philosophy, political science, and economics and also have a passion and interest in AI.

As an advisor you'll have the opportunity to mentor the SAIS community and provide your insights and guidance during the AGI Transitions Program starting in September.

If you're interested, please complete this brief form or reach out to us directly at hi@seattleAIsociety.org.

Sponsor

The SAIS is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. We are self-funded by the executive team and supported through donations from sponsors like you.

We are actively seeking sponsors for the AGI Transitions Program to cover operational costs. If desired, your name & logo will be highlighted in on our website and marketing materials, and you will receive complementary tickets to the Final Showcase event in November.

If you are interested in sponsoring the SAIS, please complete this brief form or reach out to us directly at hi@seattleAIsociety.org.

We would love to stay in touch! If you'd like to receive occasional emails from us, please complete this brief form. You can also follow up on Twitter & LinkedIn, take a peek at our Discourse forum, and of course, register for events at meetup.com/ai-society.

Other

Got another question or inquiry? You can always reach us at hi@seattleAIsociety.org.

AGI transitions program