Several academic research institutions and initiatives are actively funding AI research. Key funding bodies and programs include:
National Science Foundation (NSF):
Artificial Intelligence (AI) at NSF | NSF – National Science Foundation
NSF is a major funder of AI research through various programs. This includes core and crosscutting programs supporting advances in AI across multiple disciplines, such as Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences, Cyber-Physical Systems, Information and Intelligent Systems, and more. They also offer exceptional funding opportunities emphasizing AI, like AI and Society, Fairness, Ethics, Accountability, and Transparency in AI, and Real-Time Machine Learning in collaboration with DARPA.
Stanford Seed Funding:
Opportunities | Stanford Seed Funding
Stanford University offers funding through its Generative AI for the Future of Learning initiative. This program provides seed grants up to $100,000 for faculty, $10,000 for academic staff, and $5,000 for students and postdocs. The grants support innovative designs and research on critical issues and applications of generative AI in learning contexts.
Federation of American Scientists:
FY24 NDAA AI Tracker – Federation of American Scientists (fas.org)
They track AI provisions in FY 2024 Appropriations Bills, highlighting significant funding increases for AI research at science agencies like the NSF, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Department of Energy (DoE)’s Office of Science.
National Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes (NAIRI):
This is a multisector effort led by the NSF in partnership with various organizations, including the Simons Foundation, NIST, the Department of Defense, and several corporations. The program solicitation for NAIRI expands the nationwide network of AI Research Institutes with new funding opportunities over the next two years, covering themes like AI for Astronomical Sciences and AI for Discovery in Materials Research.
These institutions and programs represent a significant investment in AI research, focusing on fostering long-term, fundamental research in AI and addressing societal and ethical considerations of AI technologies.