Lateral

Through the Generator Residency, Jacob, Seth, and Afitab ran Lateral Workshop, a three-day retreat for mid-career and senior professionals transitioning into AI safety. Over the long weekend, professionals heard from leading experts, learned about the state of the field, and stress-tested theories about their own personal fit.

The pipeline for junior talent to contribute to the field is strong, yet despite all the more senior professionals who care about AI safety, the mid-career pipeline is much weaker. We witnessed too many instances of talented people bouncing off the field for lack of infrastructure to support their transition. Lateral Workshop was designed to build out this support and accelerate experienced professionals, adapting the in-person workshop format that has historically advanced some of the most impactful people in the field.

The workshop itself was full of amazing conversations and connections. Attendees came away with a clearer picture of the field, a plan for their own next steps, and the connections necessary to execute on those next steps. There's already been projects funded, collaborations formed, and directions pivoted as a result of Lateral, and the organizers are beyond excited to see where the attendees go from here!