Andy Konwinski, computer scientist and co-founder of Perplexity and Databricks, announced the creation of the Laude Institute, a new AI research initiative backed by $100 million of his own money. Rather than functioning as a traditional research lab, the Laude Institute operates more like a funding body, issuing structured grants to catalyze impactful work in AI.
The board includes respected figures like UC Berkeley’s Dave Patterson, Google’s Jeff Dean, and Meta’s Joelle Pineau. The institute’s flagship commitment is a $3 million annual grant for five years to UC Berkeley’s upcoming AI Systems Lab, set to open in 2027 under the leadership of Ion Stoica.
Konwinski said the Laude Institute is 'built by and for computer science researchers' and aims to guide AI development toward beneficial societal outcomes rather than commercial gain. The announcement has been interpreted as a subtle critique of OpenAI’s shift from research lab to business enterprise.
The broader goal of the institute is to fund principled AI research that advances the field without losing sight of ethics and human impact, especially amid growing concern over commercially driven AI agendas.
To read the announcement blog, visit here.