Google Invests $20 Million in AI Research

Google has announced a commitment of $20 million in cash and $2 million in Google Cloud credits to support scientific research through artificial intelligence (AI), targeting academic and nonprofit organizations globally. This initiative, launched during the AI for Science Forum, aims to tackle complex interdisciplinary problems, with promising fields including rare diseases, experimental biology, materials science, and sustainability. Google.org plans to collaborate with internal AI teams and external experts to oversee the allocation of these funds, building on over $200 million already contributed to AI-driven scientific projects in the past five years. The funding is seen as an effort to foster collaboration between private and public sectors and stimulate excitement around AI's potential in science. This move aligns with similar initiatives from other tech giants, such as Amazon, which recently announced $110 million in funding to attract AI researchers. Google's CEO, Demis Hassabis, emphasized AI's transformative potential for scientific breakthroughs, highlighting the need for resources beyond funding, such as computational power and expertise.