Washington, DC

DC AI Guide

Your guide to DC's AI policy community

Find the events, communities, and resources for getting involved in AI policy, governance, and civic technology in Washington, DC.

New to the space? Start here.

  1. 1Go to an event — AI Discussion Club walks are beginner-friendly and free.
  2. 2Join a community — Civic Tech DC connects builders and policy advocates.
  3. 3

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Upcoming Events

In-person and virtual gatherings in DC where you can learn, connect, and get involved.

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October 23–25, 2026

DC Mini-Conference 2.0

A three-day, application-based conference for undergraduates, graduate/law students, and recent grads interested in AI governance careers, bringing together students, young professionals, and policy guest speakers to develop the next generation of AI policymakers. Lodging provided from Thursday evening. Applications due August 28.

Presented by DC Mini-Conference

RSVP
October 24, 2026
3 – 5:30 PM

Outdoor Discussion Walk: Future of AI Education | a16z Academy

An AI Discussion Club walk around President's Park built around a podcast interview on the Horowitz Andreessen Academy, an AI-native residential fellowship for young builders. Optional dinner after.

Presented by AI Discussion Club

RSVP
October 25, 2026
2 – 4 PM

Ai & Restaurants

Generative Series: AI, Art & Culture returns to the LINE Hotel DC for a live conversation-and-tasting event exploring how AI is reshaping the restaurant industry — from Michelin-level molecular gastronomy and AI-driven recipe creation to how fast-casual kitchens cut waste and cost, and how AI is changing the way people discover, order, and taste food.

Presented by Generative Series

RSVP
October 27, 2026
5:30 – 7:30 PM

Defense Tech DC 020

Monthly social connecting defense tech founders, technologists, policymakers, and government stakeholders. No sponsors, no pitches, no asks — just community.

Presented by Defense Tech DC

RSVP
October 28, 2026
6 – 8 PM

How to Stay Employed in the Age of AI

AI Innovators Network hosts data scientist and author William Zhu (Proof Over Promise) in conversation with Soo-Jin Lee on what actually keeps people employable as AI reshapes careers. Networking and drinks follow at Tacombi.

Presented by AI Innovators Network

RSVP
October 28, 2026
6 – 9 PM

Halloween and Anniversary Party

Civic Tech DC turns 13. A Halloween costume party and birthday celebration upstairs at Sudhouse, with drinks, snacks and a costume contest. Replaces the usual Project Night for October.

Presented by Civic Tech DC

RSVP

Resources

Courses, newsletters, trackers, career guides, fellowships, and organizations across the DC AI landscape — filter by the kind of thing you're after.

DeepLearning.AI

Generative AI for Everyone

Free course by Andrew Ng — no coding required. Covers how generative AI works, prompt engineering strategies, and real-world applications for any profession.

Courses & Training
Visit

The Upskilling Labs

Hands-on community learning in AI applied to health, climate, and civics. Anchored in local libraries and community spaces, serving underserved populations.

Courses & Training
Visit
Amazon Web Services

AWS Arlington Skills Center

Free in-person AI and cloud computing training at Amazon's Arlington, VA facility — hands-on labs, workshops, and career resources for job seekers and career changers in the DC metro.

Courses & Training
Visit

Beltway Bits

Weekly newsletter rounding up DC tech and AI events, meetups, and community happenings. The go-to guide for staying plugged into the local scene.

Newsletters & Blogs
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AI Policy Institute

AI Policy Daily

Daily email newsletter from the AI Policy Institute, a DC-based nonprofit, briefing on frontier AI governance — federal regulation, congressional developments, international relations, and industry actions, with curated top stories and links to source reporting.

Newsletters & Blogs
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Zvi Mowshowitz

Don't Worry About the Vase

Zvi Mowshowitz's Substack covering AI developments, policy, and safety — known for thorough weekly AI roundups, careful reasoning about emerging risks, and pragmatic takes on regulation.

Newsletters & Blogs
Visit

Machine Speed

Daria's weekly threat landscape update for people who need to understand what machine-speed conflict looks like — tracking AI-enabled cyber attacks, AI-enabled defenses, and the policy frameworks struggling to keep pace.

Newsletters & Blogs
Visit
Hannah Stulberg

In the Weeds

Hannah Stulberg's Substack with practical AI guides for knowledge workers — from Claude Code workflows to foundational tools and end-to-end productivity strategies.

Newsletters & Blogs
Visit

Jasmine Sun's Blog

Essays on AI and Silicon Valley culture — an anthropology of disruption. Critical thinking about how technology reshapes society and who it affects.

Newsletters & Blogs
Visit
MIT

MIT AI Risk Repository

Comprehensive database of 1,700+ AI risks drawn from existing frameworks, organized by causal factors and risk domain — a free reference for researchers, policymakers, and regulators mapping the AI threat landscape.

Trackers & Databases
Visit
American Enterprise Institute

AI Policy Hub

Will Rinehart's project at the American Enterprise Institute tracking AI policy across all levels of government — state bill trackers, federal legislation, executive actions, official datasets, and economic research on regulatory tradeoffs.

Trackers & Databases
Visit
Evitable

AI on the Ballot

Nonpartisan platform tracking where 2026 U.S. congressional candidates stand on AI policy across ten topics — export controls, military uses, regulation, data centers, workforce, deepfakes, IP, and child safety. Look up your district by zip code. Run by Evitable.

Trackers & Databases
Visit

Congressional Committee Calendar

Track upcoming congressional hearings relevant to AI — especially from Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation and House Science, Space & Technology, which regularly hold public hearings on AI policy.

Trackers & Databases
Visit

AI Reading List for Policy People

Curated GitHub reading list for policy professionals getting up to speed on AI — covering agentic coding tools, intro AI classes, sector-specific impacts (semiconductors, biotech, cybersecurity), and 38+ AI newsletters and Substacks grouped by topic. Aimed at non-developers who need to talk intelligently with technical staff.

Trackers & Databases
Visit
Horizon Institute

Emerging Technology Policy Careers — AI Policy

Horizon's deep-dive guide to AI policy careers — covering the landscape of DC institutions, key roles, career pathways, and curated readings for anyone exploring work in AI governance.

Career Guides
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80,000 Hours

The US AI Policy Landscape

In-depth overview of the US AI policy ecosystem — mapping federal agencies, congressional committees, think tanks, and industry groups to help you identify where you can have the biggest impact.

Career Guides
Visit
80,000 Hours

Career Review: AI Governance and Coordination

Comprehensive career review covering what AI governance work looks like, who's a good fit, how to get started, and how the field compares to other high-impact career paths.

Career Guides
Visit
B Cavello

How to Get into AI Policy?

Practical, experience-based advice on breaking into AI policy — covering how to build relevant skills, find entry points, and navigate a field that doesn't have a single obvious door.

Career Guides
Visit
Miles Brundage

FAQs and General Advice on AI Policy Careers

Candid answers to common questions about AI policy careers — from a veteran of OpenAI and the White House OSTP. Covers what backgrounds are useful, how to stand out, and what the work actually looks like.

Career Guides
Visit
Horizon Institute for Public Service

Horizon Fellowship

Fully-funded fellows placed at federal agencies, congressional offices, and think tanks to tackle AI, biotech, and emerging tech policy challenges. Includes policy training, mentorship, and a close-knit community — up to two years.

Applications open · closes Aug 30, 2026Fellowships & Programs
Visit
Horizon Institute for Public Service

Career Accelerator

A nine-month, part-time, remote program that helps students, recent grads, and career-changers break into AI policy. Pick-and-choose support: mentorship, up to $50k in flexible funding, application coaching, networking intros, and optional training modules. No minimum experience required.

Applications closed Jun 21, 2026Fellowships & Programs
Visit
Horizon Institute for Public Service

AI Rapid Response Fellowship

A one-year placement in a federal office helping the government respond to fast-moving AI security challenges. Horizon recruits a specialized cohort of technical and policy talent — distinct from the main fellowship.

Applications closed Jul 27, 2026Fellowships & Programs
Visit
TechCongress

Congressional Innovation Fellowship

Places technologists in congressional offices and committees to shape tech policy from the inside. Fellows have served under leaders from both parties — from Speaker Pelosi to Majority Leader Thune.

Applications closed · reopens summer 2027Fellowships & Programs
Visit
AI Policy Leadership Network

AI Policy Leadership Network

A part-time program strengthening relationships among AI policy leaders in government, think tanks, and industry. Monthly evening discussions in DC with key figures in AI policy, plus a Bay Area learning trip. No homework — designed to be compatible with demanding full-time roles.

Applications closedFellowships & Programs
Visit
Foundation for American Innovation

Conservative AI Policy Fellowship

An eight-week, part-time fellowship for conservative policy professionals in DC seeking to understand AI and the debates around emerging technology. Work-compatible and designed for those already in the policy world.

Applications closed · reopens Winter 2027 cohortFellowships & Programs
Visit
American Association for the Advancement of Science

AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowship

Opportunities for scientists and engineers to learn first-hand about federal policymaking while using their knowledge and skills to address today's most pressing societal challenges. One of the longest-running S&T policy fellowship programs in the country.

Applications open · closes Nov 1, 2026Fellowships & Programs
Visit
RAND Corporation

CAST Fellowship

Develops new generations of policy analysts at the intersection of technology and security. Fellows research AI security, technology policy and governance, or biosecurity with mentorship from RAND experts. Six-month to three-year terms, full- or part-time, with stipends from $40k to $200k based on experience. Open to undergrads through mid-career professionals.

Rolling applications · next cutoff Nov 1, 2026Fellowships & Programs
Visit
Supervised Program for Alignment Research

SPAR

A three-month remote research program pairing mentees with experienced mentors on AI safety, policy, security, interpretability, and biosecurity projects, ending in a Demo Day. Open to undergrads through working professionals with a technical or policy background; no prior research experience required. 5–40 hours a week, unpaid, with compute and API costs covered.

Applications closed · reopens December 2026Fellowships & Programs
Visit

NIST AI

Federal AI standards, research, and public events from the National Institute of Standards and Technology — including the AI Risk Management Framework, AI agent standards, and regular public webinars.

Organizations
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NIST

NIST AI Consortium

Companies, universities, and nonprofits working with NIST on AI measurement and evaluation. Formerly the AI Safety Institute Consortium. Membership is free and takes a letter of interest; NIST reviews new applicants about twice a year.

Organizations
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SeedAI

DC-based nonprofit advancing AI readiness through policy guidance, literacy programs, and stakeholder convenings — helping policymakers and communities navigate AI's risks and opportunities.

Organizations
Visit

POPVOX Foundation

Nonpartisan nonprofit helping democratic institutions adapt to AI and emerging technology — with practical guides, training, and research for legislators and civic organizations.

Organizations
Visit

Public AI Network

Coalition advancing AI as public infrastructure — provisioned like electricity, water, libraries, or the Internet — and accountable to the public interest. Backed by Metagov, Mozilla, and the Rockefeller Foundation. Offers a Slack community, seminar series, white papers, and open-source projects.

Organizations
Visit
Renaissance Philanthropy

Renaissance Philanthropy Programs

Communities of ARPA program managers, policy entrepreneurs, and science accelerators working on responsible innovation and directing resources toward societal benefit.

Organizations
Visit

Job Board

Open roles in AI policy, governance, and civic tech around DC — curated by the community.

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Showing 25 of 729 roles

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AmazonNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026$131,300–$177,600
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AmazonNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026$131,300–$177,600
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AmazonNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026$143,700–$194,400
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AmazonNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026$167,100–$226,100
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AnthropicNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026$300k–$365k
Apply
Capital OneNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026$197,300–$225,100
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Capital OneNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026$229,900–$262,400
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Capital OneNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026$197,300–$225,100
Apply
Capital OneNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026$229,900–$262,400
Apply
Capital OneNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026$200,700–$229,100
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Center for a New American SecurityNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026
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Foundation for American InnovationNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026$20/hr
Apply
GoogleNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026$152k–$221k
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GoogleNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026$152k–$221k
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GoogleNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026$138k–$200k
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GoogleIn personcloses Oct 24, 2026$138k–$200k
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GoogleNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026$207k–$300k
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MetaNot statedcloses Oct 24, 2026$202k–$274k
Apply
MicrosoftRemotecloses Oct 24, 2026$119,800–$274,800
Apply
MicrosoftRemotecloses Oct 24, 2026$165,600–$296,400
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MicrosoftRemotecloses Oct 24, 2026$165,600–$296,400
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MicrosoftRemotecloses Oct 24, 2026$165,600–$296,400
Apply
MicrosoftRemotecloses Oct 24, 2026$142,800–$296,400
Apply
MicrosoftRemotecloses Oct 24, 2026$106,400–$203,600
Apply
MicrosoftHybrid · 3 dayscloses Oct 24, 2026$119,800–$234,700
Apply

Funding

AI grants for nonprofits and researchers, and venture and state-backed investors for DC, Maryland, and Virginia startups.

NonprofitGrants

AI for Science & Safety Nodes

Foresight Institute

Grants for local compute, independent AI risk assessment and accountability, and AI-first science. Work product must be open-sourced. Preference goes to people who will be in person at the San Francisco or Berlin hubs.

Who can apply
Individuals, teams, and organizations. For-profits can apply but must explain why they need grant funding.
Amount
Typically $30K to $100K
Open · closes Oct 31, 2026Visit(opens in a new tab)
FederalGrants

AI Datasets

National Science Foundation

Funds work that makes existing scientific datasets ready for AI research: metadata, integration, pipelines, and dataset security and governance. Planning, Impact, and Flagship tiers. The deadline recurs on the first Wednesday in November.

Who can apply
U.S. colleges and universities, research nonprofits, companies, state and local governments, and tribal nations.
Amount
$200K planning to $5M flagship
Open · closes Nov 4, 2026Visit(opens in a new tab)
FederalGrants

State and Regional AI Infrastructure Hubs

National Science Foundation

Funds consortia of universities, industry, philanthropy, and government that give a state or region shared AI compute. NSF pays for coordination, workforce, and faculty training; the consortium pays for the hardware. One award per state or region.

Who can apply
U.S. colleges and universities, and research and education nonprofits.
Amount
$4M to $12M over five years
Open · closes Nov 4, 2026Visit(opens in a new tab)
PhilanthropyGrants

Cities Deliver: AI Solutions for Public Services

Rockefeller Foundation and OpenAI Foundation

A $50 million global open call to help cities use AI in public health, economic mobility, environmental resilience, and civic engagement (not voting or elections). Projects need a committed city government partner and a meaningful frontier AI component; a DC applicant would partner with the DC government.

Who can apply
Nonprofit and civil society organizations with a city government partner.
Amount
$500K to $2M per project
Open · closes Nov 29, 2026Visit(opens in a new tab)
FederalGrants

TechAccess: AI-Ready America

National Science Foundation

Funds one coordination hub per state, territory, and D.C. to help communities, businesses, and workers adopt AI. A letter of intent is required by December 15, 2026. Some places may already have a hub from the first round, so check before you start.

Who can apply
Organizations eligible for NSF funding; one proposal per institution. Not individuals.
Amount
$1M a year for three years per hub
Open · closes Jan 15, 2027Visit(opens in a new tab)
PhilanthropyGrants

Project Tailwind

Coefficient Giving

Coefficient Giving (formerly Open Philanthropy) funds founders launching new AI safety organizations, from evidence generation and independent assessment to AI security and talent programs. Pitch one of its listed ideas or your own. Funded teams can apply for the next tier as they make progress. No deadline is stated; start by expressing interest.

Who can apply
Founders of new AI safety initiatives. No legal entity needed at pre-seed.
Amount
$200K to $2M pre-seed, $2M to $20M seed, more at scale
Visit(opens in a new tab)
PhilanthropyGrants

Transformative AI Fund

EA Funds

Grants for reducing catastrophic risks from advanced AI, plus some work on other implications of transformative AI. Covers research, training for researchers and practitioners, and field-building. Replaced the Long-Term Future Fund.

Who can apply
Individuals, new organizations, and existing organizations with new projects.
Amount
Typically $10K to $150K, rarely over $300K
Rolling applicationsVisit(opens in a new tab)
FederalGrants

America's Seed Fund (SBIR/STTR)

National Science Foundation

Non-dilutive research funding for deep-tech startups, with AI among the markets it funds. Start with a Project Pitch; only invited companies can submit a Phase I proposal. Proposal deadlines fall in November, March, and July.

Who can apply
U.S. small businesses.
Amount
Up to $305K Phase I, up to $1.25M Phase II
Rolling applicationsVisit(opens in a new tab)
Venture firmInvestment

ARTA Ventures

A $3M seed fund backing applied AI founders across software, hardware, robotics, dual use, space, and enterprise automation, with roots in the DC ecosystem. Backs only what it calls ethical applications of AI.

Who can apply
For-profit applied AI startups at seed or bridge stage.
Amount
$100K to $250K checks
Location
Washington, DC and Reston, VA
Visit(opens in a new tab)
Venture firmInvestment

Paladin Capital Group

Multi-stage investor focused on AI, cybersecurity, and other deep technologies, with 150+ transactions. Offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Silicon Valley, London, and Luxembourg.

Who can apply
For-profit companies.
Location
Washington, DC
Visit(opens in a new tab)
Venture firmInvestment

Shield Capital

Early-stage fund at the convergence of commercial technology and national security, investing in artificial intelligence, autonomy, cybersecurity, and space. Co-founded by a former director of the Pentagon's Defense Innovation Unit. Based mainly in the San Francisco Bay Area, with close ties to Washington's national security community.

Who can apply
For-profit dual-use technology companies.
Location
San Francisco Bay Area and Washington, DC
Visit(opens in a new tab)
StateInvestment

TEDCO

Maryland's technology development corporation. Applications for its funding programs go through the MyTEDCO portal. Not AI-specific: check which program fits your stage.

Who can apply
Maryland-based technology companies.
Location
Maryland
Visit(opens in a new tab)
StateInvestment

Virginia Innovation Partnership Corporation (VIPC)

Virginia's innovation agency. Its Virginia Invests initiative pairs seven fund managers with a goal of backing 100+ Virginia startups, in sectors including AI and cybersecurity, from pre-seed through growth.

Who can apply
Virginia-based startups.
Location
Virginia
Visit(opens in a new tab)
PhilanthropyGrants

Communities Leading on AI

Humanity AI

The first open call from Humanity AI, the $500 million coalition of ten foundations. Funds community-led AI work in U.S. communities. Awards run up to three years, in three tiers, and finalists are notified in December 2026.

Who can apply
U.S. 501(c)(3)s, public state universities, and tribal governments; individuals through a fiscal sponsor. For-profits can join collaborations but not lead.
Amount
$75K to $1M from a $10M pool
Closed Oct 21, 2026Visit(opens in a new tab)

Listings are not endorsements, and terms change. Confirm eligibility and deadlines before you apply or pitch.

Join a Community

Ongoing groups and channels where you can connect with others working on AI policy, governance, and civic tech in DC.

Slack

Public AI Slack

An open Slack community exploring how publicly-owned AI infrastructure can strengthen democracy and serve the public interest.

Join
Luma

AI Discussion Club

Hosts outdoor discussion walks and meetups exploring AI's impact on work, society, and the future. DC-based and welcoming to newcomers.

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Luma

Civic Tech DC

A community of technologists, designers, and policy advocates building technology for civic good in DC.

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Slack

The Upskilling Labs

Open learning pods applying AI to health, climate, and civics — join anytime, no gatekeeping. Anchored in libraries and community spaces, serving underserved populations.

Join
Campus

Claude Builder Club at UMD

An inclusive student community at the University of Maryland for exploring AI development, building projects, and learning about AI's benefits and risks. Open to all majors and skill levels.

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Campus

Claude Builder Club at Georgetown

A Georgetown University student club for building with AI — workshops, hackathons, Anthropic-led panels, and hands-on projects. Open to students of all experience levels.

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Community

The AI Collective DC

DC chapter of a global AI community connecting local professionals and enthusiasts through events like AI on the Hill Demo Night — building the human layer for the AI era.

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Luma

Data Community DC

DC community calendar for data science and AI events — technical meetups, industry panels, and AI-for-government programming with local experts and practitioners.

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Luma

Startups & AI Walks

In-person AI community walks in DC fostering connections, conversations, and new ideas among practitioners, founders, and the AI-curious.

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Event

SCSP AI Expo

Major DC event convening government, academic, and industry leaders to explore AI competitiveness, security, and responsible deployment.

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