Name: CAIA Policy Reading Group
Start: 2026-10-21T16:30:00.000-04:00
End: 2026-10-21T17:30:00.000-04:00
Location: Cornell University Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science

A community of students and researchers conducting research and outreach to mitigate risks from advanced AI systems.

Cornell AI Alignment

What kind of future are we governing for?

Join Cornell AI Alignment’s Policy Reading Group to explore what AI is, where it might be headed, and what we should do about it.

Each week, we’ll discuss readings that offer different perspectives on AI progress and governance—from competing forecasts of AI’s future to concrete policy proposals and evidence of its effects today. Expect a small, discussion-based group with room to question assumptions, disagree, and develop your own views.

Our first session: What kind of thing is AI?

Is AI best understood as an engineered tool, a social and cultural technology, or a potential digital mind? We’ll discuss competing perspectives on what AI is—and how those perspectives shape our expectations for its future and our approach to governing it.

Technical background — optional if you’re new to AI or would like a refresher:

Discussion readings — different ways of understanding AI:

We’ll share concise summaries and selected excerpts ahead of the session; you won’t need to read every full text. Come ready to discuss, question assumptions, and consider different perspectives.

Students interested in AI policy and governance, whether coming from a technical, policy, or interdisciplinary background. Some familiarity with AI will be helpful; no prior policy experience is needed. If you’re new to AI, the optional background materials above are a good place to start.