Public AI Fellow, Switzerland

PublicAI; Zürich; On-site; CHF 50,778 - 60,822; Part time

Job summary

Public AI Switzerland seeks a dynamic Public AI Fellow based in Switzerland to support growth of public AI initiatives nationwide. This role will contribute to Public AI Switzerland, the Public AI Inference Utility, and Apertus, while strengthening Switzerland’s position as a global anchor for sovereign, publicly governed AI infrastructure.

You will build trust with cantonal and federal stakeholders, coordinate with research institutions and industry partners, align Swiss interests with

Qualifications

• Strong operational instincts to move initiatives forward and manage complex workstreams.
• Existing connections within Switzerland’s AI, research, policy, or public sector communities.
• Familiarity with Swiss tech/policy ecosystems.
• Interest in public infrastructure and governance of AI.

Responsibilities

• Support the operational growth of Public AI Switzerland, including coordination with founding partners and cantonal/federal stakeholders.
• Help advance the Public AI Inference Utility and the deployment of Apertus as flagship examples of public AI infrastructure.
• Build trust and support relationship development across Switzerland’s public sector, national research institutions (CSCS, Swiss AI Initiative, ETH, EPFL), and AI industry.
• Help align Swiss interests with a broader international coalition focused on public AI.
• Contribute to the Swiss National AI Dialogue and other public deliberation efforts tied to Apertus.
• Support preparation for Public AI’s participation in the Swiss AI Summit (February 2027), including programming, partner engagement, and positioning.
• Provide political and operational advice to support consortium-building efforts.
• Work closely with our engineering team and the Public AI Switzerland cooperative members, alongside partners at CSCS, the Swiss AI Initiative, and peer institutions.

Skills

Operational leadership

Swiss gov networks

Policy governance

Open source AI

Geopolitics interest

Diplomacy experience

Multilingual (DE/FR/IT)

Job description

Location: Any major city in Switzerland, preferably Zürich
Commitment: Deliverable-based, then part-time
Compensation: 5,000 CHF stipend
Start date: ASAP

We are seeking a dynamic and mission-driven Public AI Fellow based in Switzerland to support the growth of public AI initiatives across the country. This fellow will play a central role in advancing Public AI Switzerland, the Public AI Inference Utility, and Apertus—and in strengthening Switzerland’s position as a global anchor for sovereign, publicly-governed AI infrastructure. A key throughline of the role will be building toward Public AI’s participation in the Swiss AI Summit in February 2027.

You will

• Support the operational growth of Public AI Switzerland, including coordination with founding partners and cantonal/federal stakeholders.
• Help advance the Public AI Inference Utility and the deployment of Apertus as flagship examples of public AI infrastructure.
• Build trust and support relationship development across Switzerland’s public sector, national research institutions (CSCS, Swiss AI Initiative, ETH, EPFL), and AI industry.
• Help align Swiss interests with a broader international coalition focused on public AI.
• Contribute to the Swiss National AI Dialogue and other public deliberation efforts tied to Apertus.
• Support preparation for Public AI’s participation in the Swiss AI Summit (February 2027), including programming, partner engagement, and positioning.
• Provide political and operational advice to support consortium-building efforts.
• Work closely with our engineering team and the Public AI Switzerland cooperative members, alongside partners at CSCS, the Swiss AI Initiative, and peer institutions.

You might be a fit if you have

• Strong operational instincts—someone who can move initiatives forward, coordinate across institutions, and keep complex workstreams on track.
• Existing connections or credibility within Switzerland’s AI, research, policy, or public sector communities.
• Familiarity with Swiss tech, policy, and/or research ecosystems—or the social intelligence to engage with and grow such a network.
• Working familiarity with technical subjects in open source AI (foundation models, inference infrastructure, open weights) and policy subjects (AI governance, digital sovereignty, public infrastructure).
• A keen interest in AI, geopolitics, public infrastructure, or the future of technology governance.
• Bonus if you have experience in diplomacy, international tech collaborations, foundation models, or national AI strategies of Switzerland or other middle-power countries.
• Bonus if you have working proficiency in German, French, or Italian alongside English.

This is an opportunity to shape Switzerland’s role in a high-level international initiative, and gain a front-row seat to global AI diplomacy and infrastructure strategy. You’ll work with a powerful network of international technologists, policymakers, and public interest organizations.