Application Guide

How to Apply for AIXI Labs Research Fellowship

at AIXI Labs

🏢 About AIXI Labs

AIXI Labs is a unique nonprofit dedicated to AI safety through the lens of algorithmic information theory, founded by pioneers like Marcus Hutter. As a fully remote research fellowship, it offers a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of foundational theory and modern LLM agents, with direct mentorship from leading experts in the field.

About This Role

This quarterly fellowship is designed for independent researchers to pursue self-directed projects that bridge theory and practice, from algorithmic information theory to empirical LLM and RL work. The role is impactful because it directly contributes to AI safety research, publishing findings that shape how the community understands and builds safe AI systems.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve diving into a research paper on AIXI or LLM agents, coding experiments to test a theoretical hypothesis, and writing up findings for a blog post or paper draft. You'd likely have periodic check-ins with your mentor to discuss progress and get feedback, but most of your time would be spent in deep, focused work on your self-directed project, with the flexibility to work from anywhere.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who AIXI Labs Is Looking For

  • Holds a PhD in a relevant field (e.g., computer science, mathematics, statistics) or a Master's in mathematics with substantial industry research experience.
  • Possesses a solid grounding in probability, statistics, information theory, and reinforcement learning, with the ability to apply these to both theoretical and empirical problems.
  • Demonstrates a track record of self-directed research, including publishing papers or producing significant written outputs that communicate complex ideas effectively.
  • Is comfortable working remotely and autonomously, with the discipline to manage a quarterly research project from conception to publication.

📝 Tips for Applying to AIXI Labs

1

Tailor your application to highlight how your background in information theory and RL directly applies to AI safety, not just general ML expertise.

2

Include a concise research proposal that outlines a specific project you'd like to pursue, showing how it bridges algorithmic information theory and modern LLM agents.

3

Provide concrete examples of your past research outputs, such as papers, blog posts, or open-source code, to demonstrate your ability to produce publishable work.

4

Emphasize any experience with LLM agents or empirical RL work, as this shows you can handle the modern aspects of the role.

5

Since mentorship from Marcus Hutter is a key part, mention any familiarity with his work or algorithmic information theory concepts (e.g., Solomonoff induction, AIXI) to show you're a good fit for the lab's focus.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Express a genuine passion for AI safety and explain why the algorithmic information theoretic approach is compelling to you.', 'Highlight your research independence and ability to self-direct a project, as the fellowship is largely autonomous.', "Showcase your technical depth in probability, statistics, information theory, and RL, with specific examples of how you've applied these.", "Mention your interest in mentorship from the core team, particularly Marcus Hutter, and how you hope to contribute to and learn from the lab's community."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read Marcus Hutter's seminal paper on AIXI and his recent work on Universal Artificial Intelligence to understand the foundational theory.
  • → Look into AIXI Labs' recent publications and blog posts to see the direction of their current research, especially any work on LLM agents.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the broader AI safety landscape, including organizations like MIRI and OpenAI, to understand where AIXI Labs fits in.
  • → Research the concept of algorithmic information theory, including Solomonoff induction and Kolmogorov complexity, and think about how they relate to deep learning.
Visit AIXI Labs's Website →

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you design a research project that connects algorithmic information theory to modern LLM agents?
2 Describe a time you had to balance theoretical rigor with empirical work; how did you decide the right approach?
3 What are the key open problems in AI safety that you think algorithmic information theory can address?
4 How do you stay productive and motivated when working independently on a long-term research project?
5 Explain a complex concept from information theory or RL; how would you communicate it to a non-expert?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application that doesn't address the specific focus on algorithmic information theory and AI safety.
  • Overemphasizing industry experience without showing deep theoretical understanding, or vice versa; the role requires both.
  • Ignoring the requirement for strong written communication; failing to provide clear writing samples or papers will hurt your application.
  • Not demonstrating a clear research idea or direction; the fellowship is self-directed, so you need to show you have a plan.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to AIXI Labs!

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