Episode Details

Summary

Based on the last 3 years of AI safety job board postings from 80, 000 Hours, I checked what skillsets are the most sought after in the field, including positions at different types of organisations, and separately, leadership roles. Here are three of the most important findings:

1. In leadership positions, a management skillset paired with an operations, strategy, or policy skillset is the most needed combination. Research and technical skills are not very important in this group.
2. Information security seems to be a very important skillset to have in AI labs
3. Research skills are often needed in connection with other skillsets, such as management, information security, software engineering, or policy.

You can find more conclusions at the end of the post.

I believe this analysis may help draw some important conclusions for two main groups: job-seekers and fieldbuilders, in particular those working on improving talent flows and attracting new talent to high-impact positions in AI safety.

Introduction

When I joined the Astra Fellowship as a Fieldbuilding Fellow in January, it seemed obvious to me that there must be a lot of knowledge in the field about what we need from AI safety talent pipelines. After all, there are [...]

---

Outline:

(00:13) Summary

(01:21) Introduction

(03:05) Skillsets

(06:12) Skillset needs by type of organisation

(06:46) Academia

(07:23) Public Institutions

(09:35) AI labs

(11:16) Non-governmental organisations

(11:56) Leadership roles

(14:00) Limitations

(15:32) Conclusions and implications

---

First published:
April 13th, 2026

Source:
https://forum.effectivealtruism.org/posts/AAGD34wyWHXm5d2gp/what-3-654-job-postings-tell-us-about-talent-needs-in-ai

---

Narrated by TYPE III AUDIO.