In anticipation of the private congressional meeting scheduled for September 12th, which focuses on AI and involves tech giants, Google has made a significant announcement. They have introduced the Digital Futures Project. This new initiative is to support researchers and public policy solutions related to AI. Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, is opening a fund with a total value of $20 million. This fund will grant financial support to think tanks and academic institutions engaged in developing AI expertise.
Google’s primary objective with this initiative is to finance independent researchers investigating various aspects of AI’s impact. These areas of investigation include how AI will influence global security and how it can enhance the security of institutions and businesses.
Additionally, they seek to explore the ramifications of AI on the labor market and strategies for transitioning the workforce into AI-related roles. Furthermore, Google aims to support research into how governments can leverage AI to improve productivity and stimulate economic growth. Lastly, they are interested in examining the governance structures and collaborative efforts across industries that can best facilitate responsible AI innovation.
Beneficiaries of the Grants
The inaugural recipients of grants from the Digital Futures Fund encompass various organizations. These organizations include the Brookings Institution, MIT Work of the Future, Aspen Institute, 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, SeedAI, and R Street Institute. Google emphasizes that this fund will extend its support to organizations worldwide. They also anticipate sharing further details about their global outreach efforts soon.
Google and AI
Google articulated its own set of AI principles back in 2018 and continues to release AI research. However, the company has exercised caution in developing and deploying AI technologies, leading to some researchers’ departure. This cautious approach has created opportunities for Microsoft and OpenAI to take the lead with projects like ChatGPT. Also, there is a partnership that integrates OpenAI’s technologies into Bing and other Microsoft products. Now, Google is emphasizing a collaborative approach, acknowledging that getting AI right will require the collective efforts of more than just one company.
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