Hello followers! Today, we’re diving into an exciting development in the world of AI research and big investments.

Andy Konwinski, a renowned computer scientist and the brains behind Databricks and Perplexity, has announced a bold move: pouring his personal funds into a new AI research institute. The institute, called Laude, is designed more like a fund than a traditional lab, aiming to support innovative projects through grants and investments.

Backed with a hefty $100 million pledge from Konwinski himself, the Laude Institute’s board features top-tier names like UC Berkeley’s Dave Patterson, Google’s Jeff Dean, and Meta’s Joelle Pineau. Their first major project is a $3 million-a-year grant for five years, hosting a new AI Systems Lab at UC Berkeley, opening in 2027. Ion Stoica, a celebrated UC Berkeley researcher and co-founder of Anyscale and Databricks, will lead this lab.

Konwinski describes his institute’s mission as fostering research that not only advances AI but also aims for positive societal impacts. Unlike some commercial-focused AI ventures, Laude is set up as a nonprofit with a public benefit stature, splitting research into ‘Slingshots’ for early-stage projects and ‘Moonshots’ for long-term scientific endeavors.

Despite the noble goals, there’s a recognition that the AI field is increasingly intertwined with commercial interests, as exemplified by controversies involving AI benchmarks and startup missions. Konwinski’s venture represents an effort to promote independent, human-beneficial AI research, potentially balancing the commercial and scientific worlds.

While Konwinski’s recent funding roots in the massive valuation of Databricks and Perplexity, his move raises questions about the need for more independent research institutions that can steer AI development towards societal good rather than just profit.

In essence, this initiative symbolizes a significant step towards more diversified and potentially more ethical AI research, powered by one of the field’s most influential figures.