Schmidt Sciences has announced the launch of a $10 million AI safety science program, which will support 27 projects developing the fundamental science critical to understanding the safety properties of AI systems.

The initial projects aim to develop well-founded, concrete, implementable technical methods for testing and evaluating large language models so they are less likely to cause harm, make errors, or be misused. The program is designed to develop robust tools to measure and evaluate risks, provide funding to support long-term research, and elevate underutilized academic expertise in AI. Later this year, the AI Safety Science program will convene its awardees in California, where they will share their work.

“Addressing these gaps now is essential to ensure that future AI systems are safe, trustworthy, and beneficial for society. This is more than a funding program—it’s a movement to energize the scientific community into action,” said Schmidt Sciences chief scientist and president Stu Feldman. “By building the foundation of AI safety science, we will be able to ensure that AI systems serve humanity responsibly and equitably.”

For a complete list of recipients, see the Schmidt Sciences website.

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Laurence Dutton)