Epoch AI is looking for a Researcher on the Economics of AI to investigate the economic basis of AI deployment and automation. The person in this role will work with the rest of our team to build out and analyse our integrated assessment model for AI automation, research the economics of AI training and inference, and build models to help forecast AI’s development and its impact on the economy. 

The primary activities of this position include building new and updating existing models of AI automation, development and growth, and advancing original research into the economics of AI development and deployment. Over the course of a year, we anticipate this person will have produced 2-4 leading reports on the economics of AI. The successful candidate will report to Tamay Besiroglu, associate director of Epoch AI, and work closely with the rest of Epoch’s research team.

Some examples of projects you might lead or contribute to as part of the role include:

• An integrated assessment model for AI and automation
• Research into economics of AI compute, such as the distribution of GPUs by producers to competing AI labs, the allocation of compute between training and inference under uncertainty
• An investigation into the effects of rapid AI automation on employment and wages

This role is fully remote, and we are able to hire in many countries. We welcome both full-time and part-time applicants, with a strong preference for full-time candidates. We accept rolling applications, and we will only close the role if and when we make a hire.

Key Responsibilities

• Writing reports and papers on the economics of AI automation.
• Building models about specific aspects relating to the future of AI, such as about compute, algorithms and data
• Helping steer Epoch AI’s research program with ideas on promising research avenues related to the economics of AI

What We Are Looking For

Requirements

• Familiarity with and deep interest in the field of machine learning.
• Extensive experience with economics theory and research.
• Experience writing analysis reports or scientific papers.
• Great communication skills on technical topics.
• Intellectual curiosity and open-mindedness.

Nice to have

• Published research papers in Economics journals
• Published research in machine learning

What We Offer

Compensation

• Annual salary between $110,000 - $150,000 USD pre-tax for a full-time position, prorated for part-time work. The exact salary will be based on prior relevant experience.
• Payments are not restricted to USD, and may be made in different currencies and payment intervals depending on the location of applicants and legal requirements. 
• Salaries are converted from USD to local currencies using the average exchange rate from the previous year, and contracts are updated annually with the new one year average.
• The range is due to the wide possibility space of experience and skills that candidates may bring to the role.
   

Other Benefits

• Comprehensive global benefits package
  • While they vary by country, we make every effort to ensure that our benefits package is equitable and high-quality for all staff. For most countries, the package includes medical insurance, life insurance and pension plan.
• Generous paid time off leave, including:
  • Unlimited vacation with a minimum of 30 days off per year
  • Unlimited (within reason) personal and sick leave
  • Parental leave - up to 6 months of parental leave during the first 2 years after a child’s birth or adoption for parents of all genders
• Equipment stipend of the equivalent of $2000 USD every 3 years to cover costs of purchasing work and office equipment.
• Paid work trips, including 3 staff retreats per year and relevant conferences.
• Additional in-person co-working stipend of the equivalent of $2000 USD annually to work in the same location as other staff.
• Professional development stipend equivalent to $2000 USD annually to spend on learning or development opportunities.
• Opportunity to contribute to a high-impact non-profit organization — our research is trusted by key decision makers globally.
• Other benefits as allowed at the discretion of Epoch’s leadership and local availability.

About Epoch AI

Epoch AI is a research institute that investigates trends in machine learning and the economic consequences of AI. We help policymakers and the public think more clearly about the trajectory and impact of AI through rigorous scientific research and data. Our work informs policy-making at key government institutes and governance at leading industry AI labs.

You can learn more about our work in this summary dashboard on our blog.

Additional Information

• Please email careers@epochai.org if you have any questions about this role or accessibility requests.
• While we welcome applicants from all time zones, you may be expected to attend meetings during working hours between UTC-8 and UTC+3 time zones, where most of our staff are based.
• Please submit all of your application materials in English and note that we require professional level English proficiency.
• Travel is not a requirement for this position. However, a majority of our staff travel a few times per year for conferences, retreats, and other work-related purposes.
• Epoch AI is committed to building an inclusive, equitable, and supportive community for you to thrive and do your best work. We’re committed to finding the best people for our team, so please don’t hesitate to apply for a role regardless of your age, gender identity/expression, political identity, personal preferences, physical abilities, veteran status, neurodiversity or any other background.
• Epoch AI is fiscally sponsored by Rethink Priorities.