The McCourt School of Public Policy’s Tech & Public Policy (TPP) program, in collaboration with Anthropic, a leading AI safety and research company, is hosting a unique two-day policy hackathon. The event is scheduled for April 9-10, 2025, providing a valuable opportunity for students to apply their technical expertise to address critical challenges in AI governance. Participants will focus on testing and enhancing AI safeguards.
This intensive hackathon provides a platform to directly engage with Anthropic’s policy team. Students will apply data science methodologies to analyze real-world AI policies, utilizing their technical skills to conduct “red team” exercises, which involve systematic testing and analysis to identify vulnerabilities within AI systems. They will then develop evidence-based solutions and transform quantitative insights into actionable policy recommendations.
The hackathon will focus on several critical policy domains, including resilience to extremism (terrorism, hate speech, and discrimination) and information integrity (misinformation, influence operations, impersonation, and fraud prevention). Students from the McCourt School will bring a unique blend of policy expertise and data science skills, enabling them to evaluate AI systems from both technical and policy perspectives. They’ll design rigorous testing methodologies, identify patterns and vulnerabilities, and translate technical findings into clear policy implications. This practical experience is designed to cultivate data-driven approaches to policy development.
The hackathon will unfold over two days:
- Day 1: April 9, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Morning: Introduction to Anthropic, policy overview, and methodology training.
- Afternoon: Intensive red-teaming exercises involving data science techniques for policy analysis.
- Day 2: April 10, 2025, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Morning: Collaborative solution development with policy experts from Anthropic.
- Afternoon: Presentations of data-driven policy recommendations and networking opportunities.
Eligibility for the hackathon is specifically for McCourt School of Public Policy students who have completed or are currently enrolled in data science coursework (such as MPP and MS-DSPP students). Candidates must demonstrate an interest in technology policy and AI governance and be available for both full days of the event, April 9-10, 2025. Interested students should apply by Monday, March 31, at 4:00 p.m. EST.
