Designing Australia's AI Safety Institute: Expert Survey Report

Australia is establishing an AI Safety Institute (AISI) in 2026. This is an opportunity for Australia to meaningfully contribute to reducing risks from frontier AI, domestically and globally. An AISI that attracts top talent, works on crucial research gaps, and plays to Australia's comparative advantages will have far greater impact than one that doesn't.

In December 2025, Good Ancestors surveyed 139 professionals with expertise in AI safety, governance, and related fields to gather input on what the AISI should prioritise, how it should operate, and what would attract suitable candidates.

Key findings

• Experts want the AISI to focus on frontier and catastrophic risks. 88.8% of respondents said the AISI should either focus primarily on catastrophic risks or take a balanced approach. Autonomous systems (85.8%), cyber misuse (81.2%), and dual-use science/CBRN (79.8%) were frequently rated as very important or critical risk areas to work on.
• International connections and mission focus will attract talent. 67.9% cited strong international AISI network connections as a deal-maker for working at the AISI, followed by leadership focused on catastrophic/frontier risks (64.1%) and a focused mandate on such risks (60.3%).
• Bureaucracy will drive talent away. 90% of respondents said bureaucratic culture that prevents impact would stop them from accepting a role. Insufficient funding under $10 million per year would deter 54.6%.
• Experts expect substantial funding. 77.0% recommended an annual budget of $25 million or more. Over half recommended a budget exceeding $50 million per year.
• Australia's geopolitical position excites experts. Respondents highlighted Australia's potential to bridge US-China tensions, build Indo-Pacific capacity, and contribute as a trusted middle power in global AI safety.
• Priority program areas identified by respondents included independent model evaluations and red-teaming, hardware verification and governance, international coordination and regional capacity building, and biosecurity/CBRN risk assessment.

Applications are open now

The AISI is recruiting for multiple positions, with most applications closing 18 January 2026.