AI Safety Field Growth Analysis 2025
Summary
Comprehensive study tracking the expansion of technical and non-technical AI safety fields from 2010 to 2025. Documents growth from approximately 400 to 1,100 full-time equivalent researchers across both domains.
Review
This analysis provides a detailed quantitative examination of the AI safety field's evolution, revealing significant growth particularly after 2020. Using a combination of data collection and exponential modeling, the research demonstrates a 21-24% annual growth rate in technical AI safety organizations and full-time equivalents (FTEs). The study covers both technical domains like interpretability, LLM safety, and agent foundations, as well as non-technical areas including governance, policy, and advocacy.
Key Points
- Technical AI safety field grew exponentially, with 24% annual growth in organizations
- Total AI safety FTEs increased from 400 in 2022 to 1,100 in 2025
- Top research categories include miscellaneous technical safety, LLM safety, and interpretability