Application Guide

How to Apply for Short Course, AGI Safety

at Google DeepMind

🏢 About Google DeepMind

Google DeepMind is a world-leading AI research lab dedicated to solving intelligence and using it to benefit humanity. Working here means contributing to cutting-edge AGI safety research at the most influential frontier AI company, with a unique culture that prioritizes ethical considerations and long-term impact.

About This Role

This role involves creating educational content for a short course on AGI safety, teaching core alignment concepts, technical approaches, and governance strategies. It's impactful because it equips the next generation of researchers and policymakers with critical knowledge to ensure safe AI development.

💡 A Day in the Life

You'll likely start by reviewing recent alignment research to incorporate into course materials, then draft scripts for recorded talks or design interactive exercises. Afternoons might involve collaborating with governance experts to ensure the course covers institutional approaches, followed by recording and editing sessions. You'll also participate in team discussions on pedagogy and impact.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who Google DeepMind Is Looking For

  • Deeply interested in AI safety and alignment, with a demonstrated commitment to reducing existential risks from AGI.
  • Has a solid grasp of machine learning fundamentals (e.g., supervised learning, reinforcement learning) and can explain them clearly.
  • Comfortable engaging with both technical alignment topics (e.g., interpretability, specification gaming) and governance issues (e.g., frontier safety practices).
  • Excellent communicator who can create engaging recorded talks and practical exercises for a diverse audience.

📝 Tips for Applying to Google DeepMind

1

Highlight any prior experience teaching or creating educational content about AI safety, especially if you've run workshops or written blogs.

2

Showcase your understanding of DeepMind's specific alignment research, such as their work on specification gaming or goal misgeneralization.

3

Mention any familiarity with the 80,000 Hours review of working at frontier AI labs and how you've considered the ethical implications.

4

Tailor your resume to emphasize both technical ML skills and governance/policy knowledge, as the role blends both.

5

Include a brief teaching demo or sample exercise in your portfolio to demonstrate your ability to explain complex concepts.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Explain your personal motivation for working on AGI safety and why you chose Google DeepMind specifically.', 'Describe your ability to bridge technical ML concepts with broader governance challenges, using concrete examples.', 'Emphasize your teaching or communication experience, especially in distilling complex topics for a general audience.', 'Show that you are aware of the potential risks of working at a frontier AI company and have thought critically about how this role mitigates them.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read DeepMind's recent papers on alignment, especially on specification gaming and goal misgeneralization.
  • → Study the 80,000 Hours career review of working at an AI lab to understand the ethical landscape.
  • → Review the course structure of existing AGI safety programs (e.g., from MIRI or CHAI) for inspiration.
  • → Familiarize yourself with DeepMind's governance proposals, such as frontier safety evaluations and responsible scaling policies.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Explain the difference between specification gaming and goal misgeneralization, with examples from DeepMind's research.
2 How would you design a recorded talk to teach amplified oversight to someone with basic ML knowledge?
3 Discuss the trade-offs between interpretability and performance in large models.
4 What are key frontier safety practices for evaluating dangerous capabilities in AI systems?
5 How do you think about the role of governance in complementing technical alignment research?
Practice Interview Questions →

⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Downplaying the seriousness of AGI risk or treating alignment as a mere technical puzzle without ethical stakes.
  • Focusing only on technical solutions without acknowledging governance and policy aspects.
  • Ignoring the potential downsides of working at a frontier AI company; be prepared to discuss how this role mitigates risks.

📅 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 Google DeepMind!

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