Residential Fellowships

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the relationship between philosophy and technology is more crucial than ever. Academic philosophers frequently contribute to technology firms, offering expertise in ethics, logic, and epistemology to help navigate complex issues in artificial intelligence, data privacy, and human-computer interaction. However, this relationship has often been one-directional, with philosophers adapting to the needs of tech companies rather than fostering a true exchange of ideas.

 

At RIFT, we aim to change that by facilitating a two-way flow of residential fellowships—bringing philosophers into tech firms and embedding engineers and technologists within academic institutions.Our Philosophers-in-Industry fellowship program enables academic philosophers to take temporary or part-time positions within leading technology firms. These fellowships provide them with direct exposure to real-world challenges, from algorithmic fairness and ethical AI design to the broader societal implications of automation. Rather than offering abstract solutions from a distance, these philosophers will be embedded within engineering teams, product development groups, ensuring that philosophical insight informs decision-making at the highest levels.

 

Conversely, our Technologists-in-Academia program invites engineers, AI researchers, and data scientists to spend time in academic philosophy departments, research centers, and think tanks. These technologists will gain a deeper understanding of ethical theory, logic, epistemology, and metaphysics—critical tools for tackling the foundational questions underlying their work.

 

Through seminars, workshops, and collaborative research projects, they will engage in rigorous intellectual discussions that refine their approach to technological development.By breaking down institutional silos, RIFT’s fellowship initiative fosters an ecosystem where industry and academia engage in meaningful dialogue, each enriching the other’s perspectives.

 

This model not only strengthens the ethical and theoretical foundations of emerging technologies but also reinvigorates philosophy with real-world applications. In a world where technology increasingly shapes human life, we believe that philosophy and engineering must evolve together—learning from each other to create a more thoughtful and responsible future.