PeopleofSuperintelligence

Public voice

Jess Whittlestone

Jess Whittlestone brings behavioural science to AI governance through research and policy work. She earned a Mathematics and Philosophy master's at Oxford, began a Behavioural Science PhD at Warwick, and worked on AI policy at Cambridge. Her published work examines responsible research, government monitoring, and safety rules for frontier AI. As of October 2026, she is a Senior Adviser on AI Policy at CLTR, supporting strategy, communications, and priority policy research.

Now at
CLTR
Works
31
Citations
1,244
h-index
13

Publication numbers from OpenAlex, as of 15 October 2026.

Timeline

  1. 2013

    Oxford to Warwick

    In 2013, she begins a Behavioural Science PhD at Warwick after a Mathematics and Philosophy master's at Oxford.

  2. 2018

    AI policy at Cambridge

    In 2018, she is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Cambridge's Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence, focusing on AI policy and public trust.

  3. 2019

    Openness and prudence

    In 2019, she and Aviv Ovadya examine tensions between open sharing and caution about AI research that could be misused.

  4. 2021

    Government monitoring of AI

    In 2021, she and Jack Clark propose that governments build capacity to measure and monitor AI capabilities and impacts.

  5. 2022

    AI challenges for society and ethics

    In 2022, she and Sam Clarke publish AI Challenges for Society and Ethics, a chapter on AI's societal effects and the questions AI governance must answer.

  6. 2023

    Frontier AI regulation

    In 2023, she coauthors Frontier AI Regulation, a paper that outlines safety standards for high-capability models with risks to public safety.

  7. August 2025

    Changing roles at CLTR

    In August 2025, she says she has left CLTR's Director of AI Policy role and wants more room for writing, research, and thinking.

  8. As of October 2026

    Advising CLTR's AI team

    She is Senior Adviser on AI Policy at CLTR, supporting strategy, communications, and priority policy research. In 2026, she and Imogen Stead publish a proposal on UK leadership in frontier AI governance.

Sources and credits

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  1. Why I’m doing a PhD 80000hours.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  2. AI for Good 2018 Speaker Biographies itu.int. Checked 14 October 2026.
  3. The tension between openness and prudence in AI research arxiv.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  4. Why and How Governments Should Monitor AI Development arxiv.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  5. AI Challenges for Society and Ethics arxiv.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  6. Frontier AI Regulation: Managing Emerging Risks to Public Safety arxiv.org. Checked 14 October 2026.
  7. Apply to be my boss?! - Jess Whittlestone jesswhittles.substack.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  8. About - Governing Transformative AI governingtransformativeai.substack.com. Checked 14 October 2026.
  9. Securing a seat at the table - Governing Transformative AI governingtransformativeai.substack.com. Checked 14 October 2026.