OpenAI launches a grant program to fund experiments in establishing democratic processes for AI regulation. The program aims to explore questions about AI guardrails and gather diverse perspectives. OpenAI seeks to learn from these experiments and develop a more global approach in the future. Applications are open until June 24, and successful recipients will be required to showcase their concepts involving at least 500 participants, publish a public report, and open-source their work. This initiative advances the development of democratic methods to govern AI behavior.
OpenAI has unveiled a grant program aimed at funding experiments in establishing a democratic process for determining regulations and rules governing AI systems. The program will award ten grants of $100,000 each to individuals, teams, and organizations that develop proofs-of-concept for a “democratic process” to address questions about AI guardrails. OpenAI intends to learn from these experiments and use them as a foundation for a broader, more ambitious global process. The grants will be provided by OpenAI’s nonprofit organization and seek to foster innovation in democratic methods for governing AI behavior.
OpenAI envisions a process that embodies the principles of democracy, with a diverse group of individuals engaging in deliberative discussions and transparent decision-making. The aim is to explore decision-relevant questions and build novel democratic tools to inform future AI-related decisions. The grant program aims to foster innovation in democratic processes, ensuring that decisions about AI behavior reflect diverse perspectives and serve the public interest.
While the announcement implies the grant program is separate from OpenAI’s commercial interests, some skeptics question its timing and connection to recent regulatory discussions. OpenAI’s co-founder, Sam Altman, has criticized proposed AI regulations in the EU, leading to speculation about the program’s motivations. Nonetheless, the program represents an intriguing approach to AI policymaking, even if it overlaps with the EU’s efforts in certain aspects. The community eagerly awaits the emergence of innovative ideas for democratic processes and the selection of grant recipients by OpenAI.
Applications for the OpenAI grant program are now open, with a deadline of June 24 at 9 p.m. PDT. The successful recipients will need to demonstrate a concept involving a minimum of 500 participants, publish a public report on their findings by October 20, and open-source the code behind their work. This initiative marks a significant step towards establishing democratic methods to govern AI behavior and shapes the future of AI regulation.
