Perplexity co-founder and Databricks co-founder Andy Konwinski has some exciting news. He’s currently creating the new AI research institute supported by that new $100 million pledge. This new, cutting-edge nonprofit organization’s mission is improving the overall quality of AI research and ensuring that AI technology is developed for the public good. The unique structure of the institute, which includes an operating arm as a public benefit corporation, has enabled it to work efficiently across all boundaries.
In his announcement blog post outlining the mission of the new institute, Konwinski shared an unambiguous vision for the organization. He emphasized the importance of the work being conducted by computer science researchers, stating that the institute is “built by and for computer science researchers … We exist to catalyze work that doesn’t just push the field forward but guides it towards more beneficial outcomes.”
The allocation of the institute’s research investments is especially remarkable. Konwinski has categorized these investments into two distinct buckets: “Slingshots and Moonshots.” This strategic move looks to make a play for both pragmatic improvements and moonshot strategies in AI research.
Konwinski’s deep pockets for this risky venture come from his incredible winning success in the extraordinarily high tech industry. After a massive $1 billion funding round in January, Databricks has now raised $15.3 billion and counts the company’s valuation at an eye-popping $62 billion. That financial success has allowed Konwinski to ensure there’s the $100 million investment needed to help him kick off his exciting new venture.
The institute’s board comprises notable figures in the AI field, including UC Berkeley professor Dave Patterson, Jeff Dean, Google’s chief scientist, and Joelle Pineau, Meta’s vice president of AI Research. Their combined knowledge is sure to inform the institute’s activities and help lend credibility to the fledgling institute with the research community.
The institute therefore has a very strategic orientation. It has already put out its first “flagship” grant, $3 million annually for the next five years. This new AI Systems Lab at UC Berkeley is what this grant will help make possible. This is a huge leap towards creating a premier environment for cutting-edge AI research and collaboration.
Laude, Konwinski’s private company, is a key player in this endeavor. Its role is more expansive than serving as a grant-writing research institute. Rather, it seeks to become a more proactive player with an interest in driving research priorities and results in the AI field.
Ion Stoica, who has played a major role, is the lab’s current director. As a co-founder of both Anyscale and Databricks, his connection to those early startups lends enormous firepower to the institute’s foundation. His experience in deep learning and AI will help to ensure that the organization is successful as it sets out into uncharted territory to accomplish its ambitious goals.
Overall, Konwinski’s vision for the new AI research institute bodes well for fostering innovation while placing society-first ideals at the center of future efforts. His sophisticated strategy investment direction is to further U.S. leadership in AI research. Working with some of the foremost experts in the field only serves to maximize this impact.
