Capacity Building

How we are stewarding a movement.

Animation showing the growth of the CISAI community network over time

Our goal is to contribute to the AI safety effort by bringing the brightest minds in our network together, as we see phenomenal talent in Africa that is not being tapped. By creating a Schelling point on the continent, we can foster connection between local talent and the frontier of AI safety, facilitating collaboration with the global network. We believe that South Africa has the potential, if it plays its cards right, to join the ranks of AI middle powers and have a significant stake in steering the AI future for the better. We want to play a meaningful role in stewarding this future.

50+Desks at our open workspace
10Programs offered
90+Events held
2000+Participants reached

Programs

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Cooperative AI Research Fellowship cohort

Cooperative AI Research Fellowship

A 3-month in-person, all-expense-paid fellowship connecting researchers to senior mentors at Google DeepMind, Oxford, MIT, and more.

Introduction to Transformative AI course session

AI Safety Fundamentals

Cohort-based courses covering the core technical and governance ideas in AI safety, run regularly for newcomers to the field.

AI safety workshop at Stellenbosch University

University Groups

We seed and support AI safety student groups at leading South African universities, including UCT and Wits.

Events

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CISAI weekly reading group session

Reading Groups

Weekly, hosted at our workspace — a low-key, high-signal venue for working through recent AI safety and governance papers together.

AI safety research workshop

Workshops & Talks

Workshops at national AI conferences and talks featuring world-class AI safety researchers passing through Cape Town.

Hackathons

Project-focused sprints, often run alongside partners like Apart Research, giving participants a hands-on entry point into AI safety research.

Co-working Space

Alongside our programs and events, we run an open workspace in central Cape Town for professionals working in AI safety and d/acc related fields.

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Partners, Collaborators, and Funders

Explore your path to impact.

You can make a contribution to AI safety through up-skilling, attending events, volunteering, co-working with our community, reading our newsletter, or supporting us financially.

Get involved