Google is committing $20 million in cash and an additional $2 million in cloud credits to support this initiative, which will focus on complex interdisciplinary scientific problems.

Hassabis expressed hope that this initiative will inspire collaboration between the private and public sectors, enhancing interest in AI's potential for scientific advancement.

The funding will specifically target projects in areas such as rare diseases, experimental biology, materials science, and sustainability, aiming to foster breakthroughs in these critical fields.

This initiative marks a shift towards non-equity funding, providing direct financial support and infrastructure to academic and non-profit institutions worldwide.

This funding initiative is part of a broader trend among tech giants to engage with young innovators and startups, often through acquisitions and partnerships.

The initiative also reflects a competitive landscape in the tech industry, as companies like Amazon's AWS have recently announced their own substantial funding programs for AI researchers.

Google plans to award funding to approximately 15 organizations by 2026, emphasizing substantial contributions rather than small grants spread thinly.

The initiative is expected to significantly impact scientific research, building on the success of projects like AlphaFold, which has transformed protein structure prediction.

Google.org will collaborate with teams from Google DeepMind and Google Research, as well as external experts, to identify and announce the selected organizations for funding.

At the AI for Science Forum held in London on November 18, 2024, Demis Hassabis, co-founder and CEO of Google DeepMind, announced a significant funding initiative aimed at advancing scientific research through artificial intelligence.

Notable recipients of the funding will include organizations like Materiom, which develops innovative plastics, the Women’s Cancer Institute for enhancing cancer detection, and Doctors Without Borders, which addresses antibiotic resistance.

Researchers will benefit from essential resources such as computational power, datasets, and expertise in AI integration to enhance their projects.