Databricks and Perplexity co-Founder Launches $100 million AI Research Institute, Laude
A new independent AI research institute, backed by a $100 million personal pledge from Andy Konwinski, co-founder of databricks and Perplexity, was announced Monday. Laude Institute aims to foster beneficial outcomes in artificial intelligence through a unique grant and investment structure, addressing growing concerns about commercial influence within the field.
The institute, described as more of a fund than a traditional research lab, will distribute investments structured similarly to grants. Konwinski has assembled a prominent board of advisors including UC Berkeley professor Dave Patterson, Google’s chief scientist Jeff Dean, and Meta’s vice president of AI Research, Joelle Pineau.
Laude’s initial commitment includes a “flagship” grant of $3 million annually for five years,earmarked to establish the new AI Systems Lab at UC Berkeley. the lab will be led by Ion Stoica, director of the Sky Computing Lab and co-founder of both Anyscale and Databricks – companies born from research originating within Berkeley’s labs. The AI Systems Lab is slated to open in 2027 and will feature a team of leading researchers.
Did you know?– Ion Stoica, who will lead the AI Systems Lab, also co-founded Databricks and Anyscale, both originating from UC Berkeley research.
“We exist to catalyze work that doesn’t just push the field forward but guides it towards more beneficial outcomes,” Konwinski stated in a blog post announcing the institute. This mission implicitly acknowledges a growing tension within AI research, where the pursuit of commercial gain can overshadow ethical considerations.
The proclamation arrives at a time when the independence of AI research is increasingly questioned. Concerns have been raised about organizations like OpenAI, which transitioned from a non-profit research facility to a commercially driven entity. Recent controversies, such as those surrounding AI researcher Epoch, highlight the potential for conflicts of interest. Epoch revealed that OpenAI supported the creation of an AI benchmark used to promote its own models,while its founder simultaneously launched a startup with a controversial goal of automating all human jobs.
Pro tip:– Laude Institute is structured as a nonprofit with a public benefit corporation arm to balance research and potential commercial applications.
To navigate this complex landscape, Laude Institute is structured as a nonprofit with a public benefit corporation operating arm. Konwinski plans to allocate research investments into two categories: “Slingshots,” focused on early-stage research with potential for rapid impact,and “Moonshots,” dedicated to long-term projects addressing notable challenges in areas like scientific revelation,healthcare,and workforce advancement. The institute has already collaborated with Stanford’s “terminal-bench,” a benchmark used by Anthropic to evaluate AI agent performance.
However, Laude’s ambitions extend beyond grant-making. Konwinski also co-founded a for-profit venture fund in 2024, alongside former NEA VC Pete Sonsini. The fund has already led a $12 million investment in AI agent infrastructure startup Arcade and has quietly backed other ventures. While Konwinski has initially committed $100 million of his own funds, a spokesperson indicated the institute is actively seeking investment from other triumphant technologists. Konwinski’s financial capacity stems from the recent valuations of Databricks, which closed a $15.3 billion funding round in January at a $62 billion valuation, and Perplexity, valued at $14 billion last month.
Reader question:– How will Laude Institute ensure its research remains independent given the intertwined commercial interests in the field?
the proliferation of AI research organizations, often with intertwined commercial interests, has led to a crowded and sometimes opaque landscape. The increasing number of AI benchmarks, even those created by vendors to showcase their own models – such as Salesforce’s LLM benchmark for CRMs – further complicates the picture.
Despite the potential for redundancy, an alliance of influential figures like Konwinski, Dean, and Stoica, dedicated to supporting truly independent and human-centered research, could offer a valuable option.
The Future of AI Ethics and Benchmarking: A Look at Independent Research
The launch of Laude Institute, funded by Andy Konwinski, signals a critical juncture in the evolution of artificial intelligence research. The formation of this independent research institute addresses the increasingly complex challenges of maintaining ethical standards and objective evaluation in a field heavily influenced by commercial interests. This section explores the vital role of independent institutions like Laude, the evolving landscape of AI benchmarks, and the future outlook for AI development.
One primary concern in the AI space arises due to the creation and use of proprietary AI systems. The integration of commercial incentives into research can subtly shift the focus away from safety and ethical implications. Laude Institute’s structure, with its nonprofit and public benefit corporation components, aims to mitigate these issues by balancing research goals with potential commercial applications. This model seeks to promote innovative scientific progress without being solely driven by short-term financial gains.
The Role of Independent Benchmarks
A crucial aspect of independent AI research is the development and use of unbiased benchmarks for evaluation. These benchmarks are essential for measuring the performance of AI models across diffrent tasks and for ensuring progress is made while adhering to ethical guidelines. As mentioned earlier,Laude has already collaborated with Stanford’s “terminal-bench.” This benchmark is used by Anthropic [[2]] to assess performance.
Tho, the proliferation of AI benchmarks raises several concerns. Vendor-created tools, like the Salesforce’s LLM benchmarks, can sometimes be designed to highlight the strengths of specific models, potentially compromising objectivity. Independent benchmarks, developed and overseen by organizations like Laude, are designed to offer a more neutral evaluation of AI models. Therefore, they ensure that AI evaluations accurately portray advancements in the technology.
Independent research institutes are essential for creating and maintaining trustworthy AI benchmarks. By providing unbiased assessments, these groups help to ensure the accountability and credibility of AI advancements, which is often not prioritized.
Laude’s two-Pronged Approach: Slingshots and Moonshots
Laude Institute plans to invest in two categories of research projects: “Slingshots” and “Moonshots.” “Slingshots” focus on early-stage research with the potential for rapid impact. “Moonshots,” conversely, tackle longer-term challenges in areas like scientific finding, healthcare, and workforce advancement. This dual approach enables the institute to address immediate priorities and invest in more enterprising, long-term projects. The goal here is to accelerate the discovery of the most beneficial AI systems.
The Importance of Ethical Considerations
Laude’s mission statement underscores the importance of ethical considerations in AI research: “We exist to catalyze work that doesn’t just push the field forward but guides it towards more beneficial outcomes.” This emphasis on ethical behavior contrasts greatly with a field where commercial pressures can sometimes overshadow these ideals.
Konwinski’s institute strives to create a positive impact as AI technology continues to evolve. This mission highlights the significance of carefully considering the societal implications of AI development.
Practical Tips for AI Research and Development
- Support Independent Research: Seek out and support institutions and projects dedicated to unbiased AI research.
- Promote Clarity: Demand transparency in the evaluation of AI models and the creation of new benchmarks.
- Advocate for Ethical guidelines: Support regulatory frameworks and ethical standards that prioritize safety.
- encourage Collaboration: Foster collaboration between research institutions, industry professionals, and policymakers.
faqs About AI ethics and Independent Research
What is the primary goal of independent AI research institutes?
The main goal is to ensure that AI development is guided by ethical considerations and that its benefits are shared broadly, rather than being driven solely by commercial interests.
How do independent benchmarks contribute to ethical AI development?
Independent benchmarks provide objective evaluations of AI models, helping to ensure that advancements in the field are measured against ethical criteria and not just commercial performance.
What are the “Slingshot” and “Moonshot” investments at Laude Institute intended to achieve?
“Slingshot” investments are designed to generate early impact, while “Moonshot” investments target long-term challenges in areas such as healthcare and scientific discovery
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