Talos Fellowship
Overview
​The Talos Fellowship is a programme that empowers ambitious graduates to launch European policy careers focused on artificial intelligence.​ At the core of our programme is a focus on ensuring the safe and responsible deployment of artificial intelligence and related technologies.
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As a fellow in our program, you will have the choice of two distinct tracks:
Training track
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Explore the intricacies of tech policy during our 8-week EU AI Policy Fundamentals Programme.
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Engage in a 7-day policymaking summit in Brussels.
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Receive personalized support & coaching to confidently initiate your career in tech policy.
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Placement track
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Experience the full scope of our training track by participating in our 8-week EU AI Policy Fundamentals Programme and attending our 7-day Brussels Summit.
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Secure a 4-6 month placement at a respected think tank, complemented by a stipend to support your efforts.
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In addition to the two tracks above, we are interested in candidates who are excited about furthering international collaboration on emerging AI governance. You can indicate interest to be considered for an international governance specialisation of the programme:
International AI Governance Specialisation
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Experience the full scope of our training track by participating in our 8-week EU AI Policy Fundamentals Online Programme and attending our 7-day Brussels Summit.
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Complete assignments and readings during the training period designed to develop your thinking on the EU's role in the international AI governance ecosystem.
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(Optional) secure a 4-6 month placement at an organisation working in the international AI governance space, complemented by a stipend to support your efforts.
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Applications for the Spring 2025 Talos Fellowship cohort are now closed. Applications close on October 13th 2024, and the programme will run from January - August 2025.
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January 29th - March 19th: EU AI Policy Fundamentals Programme (online)
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March 22nd - March 28th: Brussels Summit (in-person, full-time)
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April - August: Placement at Partner Organisation (for placement track fellows. Timing TBC)
Applications open
August 2024
Fellows selected
November 2024
EU AI Policy Fundamentals (online)
January 29th -
March 19th 2025
Brussels
Summit
(in-person)
March 22nd - 28th 2025
Placement at Partner Organisation
April - August 2025
Spring 2025 Cohort
Purpose
We believe that emerging technologies developed this century, especially artificial intelligence, could profoundly shape society and pose a significant risk to humanity.
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Europe has an important role to play in managing the long-term societal impacts of these technologies. However, relative to their importance, these issues receive much less attention than they deserve and many policymakers remain unfamiliar with the fundamentals of these technologies.
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The Talos Fellowship seeks to change that. We're creating a community of expert policy professionals to ensure emerging technologies are deployed safely and responsibly.
Shaping the tech policy leaders of tomorrow
Tracks
Fellows participate in one of two tracks: the training track or the placement track. Both provide a strong foundation in emerging technology governance and are designed to accelerate fellows' careers.
Training Track
This track is designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and skills needed to excel in the field of tech policy and is ideal for those interested in participating part-time.
This track offers a structured and immersive learning experience, providing a strong foundation for a career focused on emerging technology governance.
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EU AI Policy Fundamentals: Across 8 weeks, you'll delve into the intricacies of tech policy, with a particular emphasis on artificial intelligence. Through our comprehensive curriculum, you'll explore key concepts, such as compute governance, the regulation of general purpose systems, and cybersecurity. You'll complete readings, assignments and attend a 2-hour session each week featuring a guest lecture from an industry expert. We expect the workload to be 5-10 hours per week.
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Brussels Summit: A week-long policymaking summit which serves as an opportunity to interact with policymakers and peers in the field. It's a chance to apply your newfound knowledge to real-world scenarios and gain a deeper understanding of the policymaking process in Europe. Travel and accommodation costs will be fully covered.
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Personalised Support: Support and guidance will be provided for those wishing to pursue a position at the European Commission, in party politics or in another policy role. This can include a 1-2 month needs-based stipend to explore and apply for relevant roles, career coaching, and feedback on applications.
Placement Track
This track offers an immersive and hands-on experience that takes your understanding of tech policy to the next level. Fellows build concrete experience in emerging technology policy by working within a think tank for 4-6 months. This track is designed for those who seek not only knowledge but also real-world application in the field of emerging technology governance.
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Comprehensive Training: Alongside our Training Track fellows, you'll complete the 8-week AI Governance Fundamentals Programme and participate in a week-long policymaking summit in Brussels. This ensures that you have a comprehensive understanding of the core concepts and challenges in tech policy.
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4-6 month placement: Following the training, you'll secure a 4-6 month in-person placement at a respected think tank specialising in emerging technology policy. You'll receive a stipend of ~€2,000 per month during this period. Depending on personal circumstances, additional funding is available.
Each placement will be unique. Both fellows and host organisations are consulted in the matching process to find the best fit. The majority of placements are completed in-person in the respective Brussels offices.
Our placement organizations include prestigious institutions such as the Centre for European Policy Studies, the Future Society, and more. During your placement, you'll engage in real-world projects, contribute to policy research, and build valuable networks in the industry.
Who we look for
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AI expertise. A deep interest in artificial intelligence and its effects on society. Many fellows will previous experience, education, or a deep interest in artificial intelligence, or related technologies.
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Relentless. Brussels can be fast-paced, with short research timelines and narrow policy windows. We expect our fellows to strive in such an environment, producing high quality results under pressure.
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Excellent communication skills. Exceptionally strong verbal and written communication skills for internal and external stakeholders. Fellows must be able to communicate complex with a range of stakeholders and tailor their approach accordingly.​
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EU Citizenship. We have a strong preference for candidates with EU citizenship since many of the most important roles in EU institutions are only open to EU citizens. However, exceptional candidates who are not EU citizens but possess significant relevant experience (at least 3 years) may be considered.
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Undergraduate degree. The ideal candidate will have finished their undergraduate degree by the start of the training week, though many of our fellows hold a masters degree. Though we're open to applications from any subject area, we're particularly interested in those with a machine learning or public policy background.
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Our fellows will pursue roles ranging from politics to applied research. Given this, the fellowship consistently accepts a diverse cohort with varied expertise across technical areas, political systems and policy processes.
If you think you have what it takes, but don't meet every single point above, please apply and let us know how you believe you can bring your unique skills to the world of tech policy.
Speakers
Anka Reuel
Co-founder, Center for the Advancement of Trustworthy AI
How to apply
Our application process comprises 5 stages. The further you get, the more time we’ll ask you to invest.
01
Application
(<60 minutes)
Complete our application form. Include your CV and answer some short essay questions.
02
Short work sample & automated interview
(2 hours)
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to complete a ~90 minute test task and a ~30 minute automated interview.
03
Live interview
(<60 minutes)
A deeper interview with a member of the Talos Fellowship team. Answer general and situational questions relevant to tech policy in a remote interview. At this stage, we will make final offers to Talos Fellows.
04
Interview with placement organisation
(<60 minutes)
If necessary, an interview will be scheduled with potential placement organisations to assess your fit with the organisation. Placement Track fellows who do not secure a placement will be moved to the Training Track.
