Source Code: Building an AI Trust and Fairness Policy Agenda
Applications are due by November 20, 2025.
Public trust in artificial intelligence is at a crossroads. A recent study by Pew Research Center found that the majority of Americans (51%) now say they are more “concerned than excited” about AI’s impact on their lives, a sharp increase since 2021. Their skepticism reflects real risks: algorithms already shape access to healthcare, education, housing, jobs, and public benefits, often without transparency, oversight, or avenues for redress. Confidence in both technology companies and government institutions to use AI responsibly remains low, raising the stakes for action.
At the same time, business practices and profit models that reinforce existing harms in the tech sector are being embedded into the foundations of the AI industry. The choices made today will determine whether AI evolves as a force for fairness and inclusion or as a driver of disparity and harm. This is the moment to establish firm policy guardrails, ensure healthy competition within the market, provide access for emerging startups, reinforce positive business practices, and prevent harmful anticompetitive practices from becoming entrenched.
The Federation of American Scientists, in partnership with the Kapor Foundation, is seeking proposals that identify specific fairness harms associated with AI and propose actionable policy solutions at the federal, state, and local levels. Submissions should anchor in evidence, with references to the nature of the harm and a clear articulation of how the proposal would address it.
Our policy agenda is primarily organized around four key pillars, although we welcome ideas that may span or extend beyond them:
- Algorithmic Bias, Fairness, and Accountability. Advancing enforceable protections against discriminatory AI systems.
- Transparency, Explainability, and Oversight. Ensuring AI decisions are understandable, contestable, and accountable to the public.
- Data Rights, Privacy, and Surveillance. Safeguarding communities from exploitative data collection and AI-driven surveillance.
- Building a Positive & Inclusive AI Agenda. Promoting proactive uses of AI to empower communities, expand opportunity, and diversify participation in tech.
We encourage applications that focus on the applications of these pillars in a specific sector, use case, or community impact, such as labor and the future of work, education, children and young adults, disability communities, and government use of AI, among others.
Building on our previous Day One Project programs, including the AI Legislative Sprint and the AI and Energy Sprint, the upcoming Policy Sprint invites contributors to help shape the next chapter of trustworthy U.S. AI governance.
Key benefits include:
- Influence Policy. Help shape the next chapter of trustworthy U.S. AI governance.
- Collaborate with Leaders. Join a growing network of technologists, advocates, and policymakers.
- Visibility & Impact. FAS will provide editorial guidance, promotion, and platforms to elevate your work.
- Honorarium. Selected memo authors will receive a stipend after memo publication.
Applications are due by November 20, 2025.