Dear Colleagues, I am pleased to share with you the recently published report, "An AI Safety and Opportunities Institute for Brazil: A Design of Features, Functions, and Potential Challenges," jointly developed by ITS Rio and the Brazilian Center for International Relations (CEBRI). This initiative seeks to advance Brazil’s role in the rapidly evolving global conversation around AI governance and provides a blueprint for establishing an AI Safety and Opportunities Institute (AISO) tailored to Brazil's national needs and international alignment. The report arrives at a particularly timely moment, following the first wave of global AI Safety Institutes (AISIs) launched after the landmark UK and Korea summits and reaffirmed at the Paris AI Action Summit earlier this year. It analyzes lessons learned from existing AISIs in the UK, US, Singapore, Canada, Japan, France, EU, and South Korea, and proposes innovative approaches for Brazil that prioritize not only safety but also the promotion of economic and scientific opportunities through artificial intelligence. Highlights from the report: - Advocates for independent, multi-sectoral governance to avoid institutional capture and foster trust. - Recommends an advisory and not regulatory role for AISO, focusing on technical expertise and evidence-based insights. - Stresses the importance of balancing safety concerns with the development of opportunities and scientific tools for AI adoption. - Emphasizes international cooperation and alignment with emerging AISI networks to prevent isolation and promote reciprocity. - Proposes leveraging Brazil's strength in clean energy for sustainable AI infrastructure—an approach echoed by the Paris AI Summit. This document is exploratory and intended to stimulate open debate among stakeholders nationwide and globally. If your country or institution is interested in collaborating on establishing similar models, sharing best practices, or engaging with the evolving international AISO network, we warmly invite you to reach out for joint research, knowledge exchange, and discussion. This is a unique opportunity to shape the second wave of AI governance, moving beyond risk-centric frameworks to embrace inclusivity, innovation, and local context. Please find the report <https://itsrio.org/en/publicacoes/an-ai-safety-and-opportunities-institute-f...> attached for your reference. We look forward to hearing from partners worldwide who wish to contribute ideas, join the international conversation, or discuss possible synergies. Best regards, Celina and ITS team -- *Celina M.A. Bottino* *Diretora de Projetos* *Instituto de Tecnologia e Sociedade do Rio de Janeiro (ITS)* https://www.facebook.com/ITSriodejaneiro itsrio.org +55 21 3486-0390