Many AI policy careers won’t matter. Here’s how to find one that will.

By · Published February 7th, 2026 ·

An illustration of the Washington, D.C. skyline.
Familydestinationsguide.com Images, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

If you want to shape how AI develops, working on US AI policy could be highly effective. But the US policy ecosystem is huge, and some roles are much more promising than others.

In November, we published an overview of where to work to have an impact in US AI policy, with guidance for judging which policy institutions will matter most and our views on the most impactful places to work right now — from federal agencies to think tanks. A few key pieces of advice:

Be ready for policy windows. A lot of policy change happens during narrow ‘windows’ of time when an issue enters the spotlight. It’s hard to predict when a window will open, but you can prepare by:

  • Building expertise and connections that will help you act quickly — can you be the person to consult when policy around a topic begins to move? This is particularly helpful in technical domains, since there will often be few experts in the room.

  • Staying flexible so you can pivot in the right direction, rather than working toward a single narrow career goal.

  • Avoiding paths that require time-intensive prerequisites (like PhDs), especially if you think key policy decisions will be made in the next few years.

Focus on career capital rather than specialisation. Most entry-level policy roles won’t focus on AI, but they’ll still give you critical experience in navigating the space and make it easier to reach higher-impact positions. Look for roles where you can:

  • Develop a broad network. Offer to help other people with their projects and be a sounding board to form lasting connections.

  • Work on projects with tangible outputs, like publications or policy memos.

  • Watch the policymaking process up close.

  • Gain experience with policy tools relevant to AI, like R&D funding or export controls.

Match your skills to the position. Different roles reward different strengths, and you’ll have better prospects for impact if you find a role that suits you. For example:

  • Technical expertise matters more in think tanks and federal agencies than in most congressional roles.

  • Legislative positions (both state and federal) often require frantic days and long hours — and White House jobs can be even more demanding.

  • Partisan affiliation can be a prerequisite for some jobs and a barrier for others.

There’s much more detail in the full article, from lists of key departments and committees to signs that you shouldn’t pursue certain paths. We hope it helps you gauge your interest in a policy career, or — better yet — take your first steps toward applying!

This blog post was first released to our newsletter subscribers.

Join over 500,000 newsletter subscribers who get content like this in their inboxes weekly — and we’ll also mail you a free book!

Learn more: