Abhijeet V SinghDatabricks and Perplexity co-founder Andy Konwinski launches Laude Institute, pledging $100M to fund independent AI research. The initiative will support long-term AI innovations focused on scientific progress, civic discourse, healthcare, and workforce reskilling, with a nonprofit and public benefit model.What if AI research weren’t driven by profit alone? That’s the goal behind the newly launched Laude Institute. Andy Konwinski, co-founder of Databricks and Perplexity, is putting down $100 million to make it happen. You’re looking at a bold step away from the hype-fueled, benchmark-chasing AI race.Also Read: A new kind of AI institute, built for researchersThe Laude Institute isn’t another lab racing to release the next ChatGPT. Instead, it acts like a funding engine. Think of it as a grant-driven research fund, not a corporate lab. Its aim is to support independent projects pushing AI forward while keeping ethics focused.The institute's board includes big names. You’ve got Google’s Jeff Dean, Meta’s Joelle Pineau, and Berkeley’s Dave Patterson. All three are highly respected voices in the AI world. This isn’t a vanity project. It’s a serious attempt to support AI work prioritizing human value over profit.First big investment goes to Berkeley’s new AI labKonwinski’s first major grant lands at UC Berkeley. The university will receive $3 million annually for five years. That money anchors the new AI Systems Lab, led by Berkeley professor Ion Stoica. He’s known for launching Databricks and Anyscale. He also heads the Sky Computing Lab.This new lab aims to break fresh ground in scalable, open AI systems. It will open in 2027 and feature a roster of prominent researchers.Two tracks: Slingshots and moonshotsLaude isn’t just spraying cash. It’s following a structured plan. The institute separates projects into two funding categories: “slingshots” and “moonshots.”Slingshots support early-stage ideas with immediate research needs. These often get hands-on support alongside money. Moonshots back ambitious, long-term work tackling big challenges. Think AI for science, civic integrity, education, or healthcare.So, this might be your best shot if you’ve got a radical AI idea that’s not VC-friendly yet. A bridge between nonprofit and startup worldsKonwinski hasn’t ditched the business side either. He’s also co-founded a public benefit venture arm. It functions alongside the nonprofit and has already made investments.That fund, launched with former NEA VC Pete Sonsini, includes over 50 top researchers as limited partners. It led a $12 million round in agent startup Arcade and has quietly supported several other AI ventures.This dual approach makes Laude part research engine, part incubator for ethical AI businesses.AI needs a reset, not just speedToday’s AI scene is messy. Vendors often build benchmarks just to promote their own models, and commercial motives dominate discussions around safety, alignment, and deployment.Laude’s team wants to change that. With names like Jeff Dean and Ion Stoica involved, the goal is to guide AI development toward tools that genuinely benefit society, not just increase valuations.You’re probably wondering if another “ethical AI” institute can make a difference. In this case, it might. This one’s backed by some of the most experienced minds in computing and an actual $100 million commitment.AI research, but with long-term thinkingMost startups chase growth, and most researchers chase benchmarks. What Konwinski wants is different. He’s building a support system for AI scientists who want to take their time, test their ideas, and build tools that improve people's lives and work.Whether you’re a developer, a researcher, or just someone watching the AI boom from the sidelines, Laude represents a rare thing: a pause, a question, and a long game.Also Read: https://techgig.com/generateHttpWebService-v2.php?tgtype=SAVE_NEWS_READ_LOGS&news_id=122064490&news_title=Perplexity and Databricks launch Laude Institute with $100M funds for AI research&news_sec=Technology&tags=Laude Institute,, Andy Konwinski at Laude Institute’s Inaugural Ship Your Research Summit in San Francisco on June 18. Photo by Marc Fong. Before co-founding A.I. companies like Perplexity AI, Andy Konwinski was , Andy Konwinski, computer scientist and co-founder of Databricks and Perplexity, announced Monday that his company, Laude, is forming a new AI research institute backed with $100 million of his own .