AI Safety Needs More Generalists – David Conrad

In this episode, Dewi speaks with David Conrad, an Australian entrepreneur who went from running a nationwide chain of premium pet resorts to helping build Europe’s AI policy talent pipeline. David shares how burnout, the pandemic, and a growing sense of responsibility pulled him away from the startup world and toward the fast-moving landscape of AI governance. He talks through the uncertainty of entering a new field, the challenge of finding meaningful work in AI policy without a technical background, and how early mentors, courses, and community helped him find his footing. David also reflects on why he ultimately chose field-building over direct policy work, how Talos aims to scale Europe’s AI governance workforce, and the impact their fellows are already having through placements in think tanks, government bodies, and EU institutions. This conversation digs into the realities of switching careers into AI safety, the need for entrepreneurial people in governance roles, and the growing importance of building teams that can steer advanced AI toward a better future. Check out the Talos Fellowship. - https://www.talosnetwork.org/talos-fe...