Google.org Boosts AI Development with $20M Investment in Think Tanks and Academic Institutions.

• Google

Google.org, the philanthropic branch of the tech giant Google, has announced an initiative to support researchers and public policy solutions in artificial intelligence (AI). The industry, known as the Digital Futures Project, involves the establishment of a $20 million fund that will provide grants to think tanks and academic institutions dedicated to developing AI expertise. This announcement comes ahead of a private Congressional meeting centered on AI and involving prominent tech companies.

"AI has the potential to make our lives easier and address some of society’s most complex challenges — like preventing disease, making cities work better, and predicting natural disasters. But it also raises questions about fairness, bias, misinformation, security, and the future of work." These words, spoken by Google.org director Brigitte Hoyer, encapsulate the mission of the Digital Futures Project.

The Aims of the Digital Futures Project

Google.org aims to fund independent thinkers exploring diverse topics around AI. Some of the areas of interest include the impact of AI on global security and how it can bolster the security of institutions and enterprises; the influence of AI on labor and how the workforce can transition to future AI jobs; how governments can harness AI to boost productivity and economic growth; and what kind of governance structures and cross-industry efforts can best promote responsible AI innovation.

The Inaugural Grantees of the Digital Futures Fund

The first grantees of the Digital Futures Fund comprise a diverse group of institutions, including the Aspen Institute, Brookings Institution, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Center for a New American Security, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Institute for Security and Technology, Leadership Conference Education Fund, MIT Work of the Future, R Street Institute, and SeedAI.

Google has stated that the fund will support organizations globally, not just within the U.S., and plans to share more details soon.

Responsible AI Development

As AI technology advances, "Responsible AI" has received more attention. Recently, some significant players in the AI industry - OpenAI, Microsoft, Anthropic, and Google - announced the formation of the Frontier Model Forum. This new organization aims to ensure that AI models are developed safely and responsibly. In addition, President Biden held a meeting at the White House with representatives from seven AI companies to discuss voluntary safeguards for AI. Europe is also working towards a unified set of rules for AI.

Google's Long-term Vision for AI

In 2018, Google released its AI principles and has since continued to publish AI research. However, the company has become more careful in developing and releasing AI technologies, which has resulted in some researchers leaving. This cautious approach has allowed Microsoft and OpenAI to take the lead with ChatGPT and a partnership that incorporates OpenAI technologies into Bing and other Microsoft products.

With a renewed focus on collaboration, Google emphasizes that achieving the right balance in AI development will require more than just one company's effort. "We hope the Digital Futures Project and this fund will support many others across academia and civil society to advance independent research on AI that helps this transformational technology benefit everyone," Gosselink, a representative from Google, stated.