The artificial intelligence giant OpenAI has launched a $50 million grant program to support AI-enhanced academic research at universities.

The US-based AI research company OpenAI announced a $50 million grant program for academic research. OpenAI revealed that it is supporting a new consortium called NextGenAI, which will focus on supporting AI-enhanced research at top universities such as Harvard, Oxford University, and MIT. NextGenAI, with 15 founding academic partners, will fund research grants and computational resources with the $50 million funding received from OpenAI. Funding will start being received by students, educators, and researchers in the coming months.

OPENAI STATEMENT
A statement from OpenAI said, “This initiative was built not only to support new generation discoveries but also to prepare the next generation to shape the future of AI. NextGenAI is designed to support scientists seeking cures, academics producing new insights, and students specializing in AI for the future of the world.” The recent dismissal of a selected group of National Science Foundation employees due to their expertise in the field of AI by the Trump administration has raised concerns about the threat this poses to significant AI-related work conducted by the institution.