The increasing sophistication and prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI) has resulted in a wide-ranging conversation about the far-reaching implications of these technologies for our society and economy. The prospect of widespread adoption of AI promises to solve complex problems in engineering, transportation, and law — while creating new disruptions to our existing institutions and social norms that are already sparking contentious policy debates. Central to this conversation is building consensus and expertise in crafting public policy to take full advantage of AI’s innovation while mitigating the inevitable transition costs, techno-panics, and potentially even longer-term risks of AI.

To advance this conversation, the R Street Institute and the Center for Democracy and Technology launched the Governance Research in Artificial Intelligence Leadership (GRAIL) Network to connects top-tier academic researchers working on artificial intelligence issues with the policy conversation happening in Washington D.C.

GRAIL’s primary objective is to empower scholars to bring policy-relevant work on AI to Washington and to educate them about how their work can address important public policy questions in a nonpartisan, informed way. The network plays a unique role in the AI ecosystem by connecting scholars to impactful public policy opportunities in Washington, DC and throughout the country. It also works to educate scholars about the policymaking process, helping workshop ideas to bring an understanding of the political realities and structural tradeoffs associated with different proposals.