Artificial Intelligence Lab

Artificial intelligence issues occupy a growing share of the Legislative and Executive Branch agendas; every day, Congressional aides advise their Members and Executive Branch staff encounter policy challenges and opportunities posed across sectors—from finance to defense. It is critical that lawmakers and government officials be well-versed in this technology and its most recent advancements.

An in-person Tech Labs class hosted at the Wilson Center during COVID, using safety precautions — Image Credit

What the Congressional and Executive Branch Labs Offer

Similar to the Wilson Center’s other technology training programs (e.g. the Congressional Cybersecurity Lab and the Foreign Policy Fellowship Program), the core of the Artificial Intelligence Lab is a six-week seminar series that introduces participants to foundational topics in AI: What is machine learning? How do neural networks work? What are the current and future applications of autonomous intelligent systems? Who are currently the main players in AI? What will AI mean for the nation’s national security?

Each seminar is led by top technologists and scholars from the private, public, and non-profit sectors, and a critical component of the Lab is an interactive exercise, in which participants are given an opportunity to take a hands-on role on computers to work through some of the major questions surrounding artificial intelligence. The first session will be hybrid (on Zoom and in-person in Washington, D.C.) and the rest will be offered virtually. The seminar is provided free of cost to participants.

Please reach out to Sophie.Goguichvili@wilsoncenter.org with any inquiries.

All sessions will be held virtually on Fridays from 2:00-4:00pm EDT.

There is no cost to attend the lab, but an application must be submitted in order to be selected.

Alumni Program

Fellows who attend at least 5 out of 6 sessions join the AI Lab Alumni Network. Alumni are invited to take part in exclusive Wilson Center events and programs, including private briefings, workshops, study trips, and high-level roundtables. During the seminar series, participants will also be in a position to draw on the expertise of the 150 resident scholars the Wilson Center hosts each year, a global network of academics and policymakers.

Who Should Apply

The AI Lab is divided into two separate fellowship series. One that is offered for mid- to senior-level Congressional staff and one that is offered for mid- to senior-level Executive Branch staff. The program is also open to exceptional rising leaders with a keen interest in AI. Applicants should possess a strong understanding of the legislative or Executive Branch governing process and aspire to a career shaping national security policy.
Note: At this time, the Wilson Center Technology Labs are only available to U.S. government staff.

Congressional AI Lab

Applications for the Fall 2023 Congressional AI Lab open September 11th and close October 13th.
Applicants will be notified of a decision no later than two weeks before the start of the series.
Weekly sessions will take place on October 27th, November 3rd, November 17th, December 1st, December 8th, and December 15th.
The first session of the series will held in-person at the Wilson Center (with the option to webcast in) and all following sessions will be held virtually on Zoom.

Executive Branch AI Lab

Applications for the Fall 2023 Executive Branch AI Lab open July 24th and close August 25th.
Applicants will be notified of a decision no later than two weeks before the start of the series.
Weekly sessions will take place on September 8th, September 15th, September 22nd, September 29th, October 13th, and October 20th.
The first session of the series will held in-person at the Wilson Center (with the option to webcast in) and all following sessions will be held virtually on Zoom.