Google doubled down on its artificial intelligence (AI)-for-good commitment and launched a $25 million pool to fund projects that use AI to address social and environmental challenges. Organizations selected for grant funding will also receive credit and consulting help from Google Cloud.
The new AI fund follows Google’s decision not to bid for the Pentagon’s $10 billion JEDI contract because the work may not support its AI principles.
And in June, the cloud giant decided not to renew its contract with a Pentagon drone program after more than 4,000 Google employees signed a letter demanding that the company cancel the contract and not use its AI technology to support war efforts.
The company says applicants don’t need to be AI experts to be considered for its $25 million funding pool. Organizations can apply online, and a panel will review and select the winning proposals in Spring 2019. “We’re looking for projects across a range of social impact domains and levels of technical expertise, from organizations that are experienced in AI to those with an idea for how they could be putting their data to better use,” the website says.
Grantees will also join a Launchpad Accelerator program and receive specialized support from Google Cloud in collaboration with data science nonprofit DataKind.
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