FAQ

Can anyone apply?

Yes – any age, any country, no credentials required.

What type of project qualifies?

Any project that will benefit humanity that leverages AI. We're not zealous about open-sourcing, but we'd like to see a rationale for exceptions (for example if you think it'd be best for the world to reserve the IP for a company).

What do I get if I win?

$2,500 in cash, up-front.

Access to the AI Grant network.

$20,000 in Google Compute Engine credits.

50% off first $15k in Scale API spend.

$5,000 in Figure Eight (previously CrowdFlower) data labeling credits.

What are the key dates?

April 14th: Applications Due.

May 1st: Finalists selected and applicants notified.

May 10th: Fellows selected and announced.

What does AI mean?

We're open-minded. Your project can be:

contributing to an existing open source project

creating a new framework or tool

researching a new technique

applying an existing algorithm to a new problem

creating or curating a free dataset that others can use

educating, explaining, or otherwise helping people learn new or existing techniques

…or anything else that feels like AI.

How will you select the winners?

We're looking for smart people with interesting ideas that could be useful to the world. We'll pay extra attention to projects that seem like they won't get funded another way.

What is the "experimental assessment"? What are you using it for?

You'll notice that there's an additional questionnare after the application is filled out. To help ensure we provide opportunities to as broad a set of people as possible, we're experimenting with mechanisms to identify people who don't already have a lot of achievement under their belts. Your answers will never be shared with anyone other than AI Grant staff. It may be that these tests don't work, or don't predict the right thing. We're just trying to learn. The application will still be the primary factor in our screening process.

I have a job. Can I still apply?

Yes! Anyone can apply. You just need to make sure that you don't conflict with any IP contract you've signed with your employer.

Can teams apply?

Yes. Multiple people can apply together as a team. Please fill out a single application, but provide background information for each person in the team. You should designate a lead person to coordinate the application as well as receive and distribute/spend the money.

How does it work if I win?

You'll get the cash and credits up front. If you use PayPal, we can fund you same-day. We'll publish a list of all the winners on aigrant.org after they've been selected. Three months after you’re funded, we’ll ask you to write a short summary of your project and post it to blog.aigrant.org.

That's it.

Can I apply multiple times?

Yes, you can apply as often as you like. You can only win once.

How do I get the money?

We can send you the money via PayPal or ACH.

I love this idea and I want to help! Can I provide additional funding, hardware, GPU time, datasets, mentorship, or help reviewing applications?

Yes! 🙏 Thank you for being awesome! If you want to contribute in any way, please email us at sponsorship@aigrant.org.

Are there any strings attached?

The money is a gift. It's not an equity investment or loan, and we won't own any of your intellectual property. Our only request is that you pay it forward to others in the AI Grant network.