The Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) announced on Mar. 11 a series of initiatives aimed at shaping artificial intelligence policy and preparing students for the challenges and opportunities presented by this technology.
As artificial intelligence continues to influence how people interact with technology, policymakers are working to establish guidelines for its use. Princeton SPIA is contributing to these efforts by connecting researchers with lawmakers, educating students, and advancing university research on AI.
“AI is clearly transformative technology, and Princeton SPIA is leading the conversation on the policy implications of its innovative potential,” said Amaney Jamal, dean of SPIA. The school’s work includes congressional briefings, roundtables in Washington, D.C., and collaborations such as the Princeton AI Dialogues—a partnership between the SPIA DC Center and the Center for Information Technology Policy (CITP). These dialogues allow faculty experts to share their knowledge with decision-makers across various sectors.
“This initiative offers a range of opportunities for University experts to inform contemporary policy deliberations in Washington,” said Zach Vertin, director of the Princeton SPIA DC Center. “From labor markets to healthcare to national security, our faculty are well positioned to educate policymakers in seeking to strike the right balance between AI innovation and governance.”
Students also play a key role in these initiatives. Undergraduates have participated in task forces presenting research on AI risks and energy needs to Congressional staff. “Science will undoubtedly move faster than policy in this space,” said Dhyana Mishra ’27, a student participant. “So how can we rationally think through worst-case scenarios and build policies that take those into account, even if they haven’t been realized yet?”
On campus, CITP has launched forums for state legislators and introduced an undergraduate minor focused on computing, society, and policy. Tithi Chattopadhyay, CITP’s executive director, said: “CITP has over the decades been a neutral facilitator that helps provide technical expertise and encourages knowledge sharing. As AI gets used to enhance government services, we hope that this forum will help be a resource to state and local legislators.”
Paul Lipton, senior associate dean for academic administration at Princeton SPIA, added: “That so many of our undergraduate students are out in front of this emerging policy discussion signals how quickly its relevance has registered and the need to better understand its impact.”
Princeton SPIA’s ongoing work aims both to inform public debate about artificial intelligence policies and prepare future leaders as new challenges emerge.
