With a renowned board that includes industry leaders like Jeff Dean and academic figures like Joëlle Pineau, Laude is poised to support groundbreaking AI research and facilitate the transition of innovative ideas from academic papers to real-world applications. Andy Konwinski’s vision for Laude is to serve as a hub for visionary researchers dedicated to leveraging AI for addressing complex challenges and seizing new opportunities in an open-source ecosystem.
Focused on empowering researchers with the necessary resources at the right time, Andy Konwinski intends to fuel the creation of open-source innovations and new companies. Having pledged $100 million from his personal funds for the first round of grants, Konwinski conveyed this vision during Laude’s inaugural Ship Your Research Summit in San Francisco, leaving his voice nearly lost the following day. This invite-only event brought together 70 selected researchers from various universities for a day filled with engaging discussions led by prominent speakers like Jeff Dean and Dave Patterson.
Distinguished by its distinct “AI for good” mission, Laude aims to foster a new wave of innovative projects by awarding grants to ambitious “moonshot” endeavors, which may take up to three to five years to complete. Selected projects will receive seed funding of $250,000, with promising ones evolving into multi-year research labs alongside university-affiliated faculty members.
Konwinski emphasizes the importance of striking a balance between maximizing the benefits and mitigating the risks posed by AI technologies. Through collaborations with advisors from academia and industry, Laude aims to guide research projects towards impactful outcomes while fostering a culture of transparency and collaboration among researchers.
With a mission to catalyze impactful breakthroughs by translating research into tangible results, Laude’s flagship initiative, Moonshots, will initially concentrate on transforming healthcare delivery, accelerating scientific advancements, rejuvenating civic discourse, and preparing workers for the era of AI. These areas hold significant potential for positive change through AI technology, according to Konwinski.
Beyond acting as an incubator, Laude seeks to cultivate a community of researchers committed to advancing AI for societal benefit. Supporting both “moonshot” and “slingshot” projects, the organization offers quick grants and hands-on assistance to individual researchers looking to launch startups or open-source ventures. This comprehensive support includes funding for computational resources, PhD or Postdoc assistance, and collaborations with professionals in diverse fields.
