Cape Institute for Safe AI

Cultivating human agency in the age of AI.

The Cape Institute for Safe AI (CISAI) is a research and capacity-building node focused on addressing the risks from advanced AI, based in Cape Town, South Africa.

Our key focus areas
  • Open Workspace
  • Research Lab
  • Residency Programs
  • Fieldbuilding Events
Illustration of a floating island representing Cape Town, rendered in a retro-futurist style

What we do.

CISAI logo reveal animation illustrating awareness, technological progress, and the need for existential security

We expect AI to be the most transformative technology of our time, and as such we expect it to exacerbate the systemically vulnerable world we inhabit. With this in mind, we are establishing a research lab and creating a capacity building hub that will act as a Schelling point for people working on solving the challenges of rapid technological acceleration.

History

CISAI is the next iteration of AI Safety South Africa (AISSA). AISSA was founded in 2024 by Leo Hyams and Benjamin Sturgeon. They spent two years building the AI safety ecosystem in Cape Town, and South Africa more broadly. In 2025, AISSA grew from a two-person founding team into a hub running research programs and capacity building initiatives in partnership with leading AI safety organisations such as the UK AI Security Institute and the Cooperative AI Foundation.

CISAI builds on AISSA's capacity building mission by establishing a larger workspace and formally launching a research lab. This shift enables the organisation to host larger programs, establish a more permanent hub, and take on more ambitious research.

Programs, community, and research.

Open Workspace We provide premium workspace for established and transitioning professionals working in AI safety and d/acc related fields. Our hub in Cape Town is the home for our lab, residency programs and community. The space lends itself to knowledge exchange and idea generation. AI safety talent and professionals can apply to work from our offices, and we provide subsidised rates where needed. →
Programs We run programs for talent development in d/acc and AI safety related fields. Previously, we ran the Cooperative AI Research Fellowship, a 3-month in-person all-expense paid program where we connected fellows to senior researchers at Google Deepmind, Oxford, MIT, and more. We will be hosting the PIBBSS fellowship from our space from November 2026 to February 2027. →
Fieldbuilding Events We regularly organise field-building events such as reading groups, hackathons, talks, and workshops. Our vibrant community is a vital part of building greater awareness and capacity for responding to the civilisational transition that we find ourselves in. →
Research Our affiliated researchers have published on a broad range of topics in technical AI safety, cooperative AI, and technical AI governance in top global venues such as ICML, ICLR, AAAI, and NeurIPS. Previously, we have developed AI evaluations research with the UK AI Security Institute, and are currently in a research partnership with Apart Research, investigating AI's ability for harmful manipulation of human behaviour. →

Partners, Collaborators, and Funders

Reach out to us here.

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