SF Residency
An intensive residency in San Francisco that enables motivated individuals to work on projects to improve the welfare of sentient beings in the era of rapidly developing artificial intelligence.
“It was really motivating to be around other people working in this space and to see our ideas actually get used by labs.”
I didn’t realise how plugged-in Sentient Futures would be — not just in AI safety, but in the animal advocacy scene here in the Bay. It’s an environment where serendipitous opportunities actually happen.
How the residency works
Project work
Bring your own project(s), join others, or do both. Work in an environment that can keep you accountable and motivated.
Structure and meeting people are what the residency brings — by far the two differences between this and just doing these projects at my house.
Advising
Regular one-on-ones with the Sentient Futures team, and structured feedback from the other residents. When your project needs expertise we don’t have, we’ll help you find the best person to ask.
The coaching sessions were career-altering. They showed me there’s a community of people who care about the same things I do, and that gave me a path forward.
Guest speakers
Talks and Q&As with guests from frontier AI labs, animal welfare organizations, and the wider Bay Area community.
The guest speakers and Q&As gave me ideas that will stick with me, and such a diverse group of people made it a fun place to be.
Why now?
Location
The course of transformative technology is being shaped by a remarkably small number of people in San Francisco, and the animal welfare movement is barely represented among them. If you need convincing, Yes, You. Move to San Francisco. makes the longer case.
Community
At Mox and around San Francisco you’ll meet researchers from frontier labs, leaders in animal welfare, and potential funders. Many of your most high-impact connections will be completely unplanned.
Urgency
Transformative technologies are developing fast. Opportunities are abundant and far outpace our ability to act on them. Come do valuable work on the most urgent problems of our time.
Program details
10-15 weeks, in-person
Mox, a coworking and events space that we share with other mission-driven organizations. It’s open around the clock and runs a busy calendar of community events.
We’d like residents to work on their projects in the office from M-F while they’re here.
An educational and professional development program during the morning and afternoon. Residents participate in structured programming, workshops, mentorships, networking, and independent project work.
Accommodation, meals, travel to and from San Francisco, local transportation, and other expenses are all covered.
Who this program is for
Our first cohort came to San Francisco in the summer of 2026: 16 residents chosen from over 130 applications, arriving from as far as Vietnam, Ireland, France, and Canada. Their work ranged from new AI benchmarks and training data that help frontier models reason more carefully about animals, to field building and fundraising. Several are staying on in the Bay Area.
AI researchers
You have technical skills and research taste. You’re looking for a mission-driven community within the epicenter of AI safety and development.
Generalists
You are agentic and service-oriented. You’re open to opportunities ranging from doing research or ops for existing projects to spinning up new initiatives.
Founders
You are entrepreneurial or have an idea that could become an organization. You’re seeking focused exploration in a city full of all the collaborators and funders you need.
What you leave with
A clear next step
The residency is ideal for career transitions and pathfinding. You’ll have coaching, mentors, and peers to test ideas against, plus the time to work out where you can make the biggest impact. The aim is that you leave with a clear next step: a role at an organization working on the welfare of sentient beings, or an initiative of your own.
A lasting base in SF
Residents gain solid working relationships across the city’s labs, organizations, and community. This is a foundation for all the years after, and by the end of the program you’ll want to stay.
A team in your corner
The relationship doesn’t end when the residency does. You keep priority consideration for our other programs and events. We may also advise on career decisions, make introductions, and flag future opportunities as they come up.
Frequently asked questions
No. The residency is an educational and professional development program, so there's no employment relationship and no salary. Instead, each resident has a monthly budget covering the costs of being here.
Housing, meals, travel to and from San Francisco (including visa fees), local transportation, travel medical insurance, and other expenses that support your project and stay.
We arrange housing options near the office, from affordable shared setups to private rooms.
While we prioritize people who can be here for the full program, and especially those interested in staying local afterwards, don’t let partial availability stop you from applying.
Yes. For residents who need a visa or travel authorization, we provide an invitation letter and guidance well before the start date, and visa fees are a qualifying program expense.
Yes, fill out the form anyway. We're planning future cohorts and will consider you for those.
No! The strongest applications come from people who've already thought hard about where they could do the most good in this space, and who have the skills to bring that vision to life. If you don’t have a polished plan, come with a direction and a willingness to explore avenues for maximum need and impact.
We will get back to you on a rolling basis, once the program begins accepting applications.