Ben SnyderPolicy Advisor
Advocacy organization · Policy · Washington, D.C. · Est. 2020
Encode is a U.S.-based advocacy organization focused on advancing public policy and governance frameworks for advanced (including so-called “frontier”) AI systems. Its core approach is coalition-building and targeted legislative strategy across federal and state arenas, emphasizing safeguards such as transparency, incident reporting, whistleblower protections, and independent oversight.
Encode describes itself as pro-human and pro-AI, arguing that governance should enable responsible innovation rather than broadly suppress development. It also states that it does not accept funding from corporations, foreign governments, or executives at frontier AI companies.
Encode highlights the signing of Illinois’s SB 315 and quotes co-executive director Sunny Gandhi describing the law as a leading AI safety measure, including requirements around disclosures, incident reporting, and independent third-party audits. The law is stated to take effect January 1, 2027.
Encode frames the policy debate as shifting from whether to regulate AI to how to regulate it proportionately (Nathan Calvin remarks)Encode republishes an interview/podcast discussion with Encode general counsel Nathan Calvin on the necessity of regulation and the policy mechanisms (e.g., transparency and incident reporting) that can improve safety without choosing between “no regulation” and “lots of regulation.”
Podcast: Sneha Revanur on Encode’s political strategy and advancing AI safety lawsEncode republishes an 80,000 Hours podcast page featuring founder Sneha Revanur discussing how Encode’s advocacy strategy contributed to passing AI safety laws and coalition-building around governance.