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Artificial intelligence is design – not destiny.
That’s the message from ten philanthropic foundations that aim to loosen the grip the technology’s moneyed developers have on its development, fueled by an investment frenzy. Launched on Tuesday under the name Humanity AI, the coalition is pledging $500 million over the next five years to put human interests at the forefront of the rapid integration of technology into daily life.
“Every day, people learn more about how AI is impacting their lives, and it can often feel like this technology is happening to us, rather than with us and for us.” MacArthur Foundation President John Palfrey said in a statement. “It is a huge risk for a handful of companies and the leaders within them to defer decisions.”
Artificial intelligence has been adopted as a productivity enhancer in fields such as software engineering or medicine. Voice-cloning technology has been used to help speech-impaired people communicate. Humanitarian groups are testing its ability to translate important documents for refugees.
But others question whether its deployment is actually improving their quality of life. Some say that real harms exist for children turning to AI chatbots for collaboration. AI-generated deepfake videos contribute to the spread of misinformation and disinformation online. Electricity-hungry systems’ reliance on energy generated from fossil fuels contributes to climate change. And economists fear that AI is taking jobs away from young or entry-level workers.
Humanity seeks to take back agency by supporting AI technology and advocates centering people and the planet. Members must make grants in at least one of five priority areas identified by the coalition: advancing democracy, strengthening education, protecting artists, amplifying work, or protecting individual security.
The coalition of a wide range of philanthropies underlines the broader concern. Its ranks include humanities supporters such as the Mellon Foundation and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; those tackling inequality such as the Ford Foundation and Omidyar Network; equitable technology funders such as the Mozilla Foundation and the Siegel Family Foundation; as well as charitable stalwarts at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
“We can choose participation rather than control. The systems that shape our lives must be driven by people, open by design, and inspired by imagination,” Nabiha Syed, executive director of the Mozilla Foundation, said in a statement. “And Humanity will support exactly that by providing resources to those taking back human agency in AI technology development.”
They’re not the first philanthropic coalition to emerge this year that aims to ensure everyday people aren’t left behind. Gates Foundation And Ballmer Group was among the funders who announced in July that they would spend $1 billion over 15 years to help build AI tools for public defenders, parole officers, social workers and others who need help. Americans In adverse circumstances. Other efforts aim to improve AI literacy and expand access for entrepreneurs in low-income countries.
Humanity AI hopes to expand its collaboration. The partners will begin coordinating grants this fall and deposit their money into a fund managed by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors next year.
Michelle L. of Omidyar Network. Jawando emphasized that humans have the power to ensure that artificial intelligence enhances, and does not destroy, their needs. But he said we’re at that crossroads now.
“The future will not be written by algorithms,” Jawando said in the release. “It will be written by the people as a collective force.”
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Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits is supported through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from the Lilly Endowment Inc. AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.