A powerful new coalition, Humanity AI, has emerged with a bold $500 million commitment to fundamentally reorient artificial intelligence development away from pure corporate profit and toward genuine human needs and societal flourishing, signaling a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over technology’s future.
The rapidly accelerating evolution of artificial intelligence has often felt like an unstoppable force, a destiny rather than a design. However, a groundbreaking initiative launched by ten prominent philanthropic foundations, dubbed Humanity AI, is challenging this narrative with a substantial $500 million commitment over the next five years. This coalition aims to loosen the grip that moneyed developers, fueled by an investing frenzy, hold over AI’s trajectory, placing human interests firmly at the forefront of its integration into daily life.
The Growing Disconnect: Efficiency vs. Flourishing
While artificial intelligence has been widely embraced as a productivity booster in various sectors, from software engineering to medicine, and offers promising applications like helping students with disabilities or translating documents for refugees, a significant portion of its deployment raises critical questions about its actual impact on quality of life. As MacArthur Foundation President John Palfrey articulated, “Every day, people learn more about the ways AI is impacting their lives, and it can often feel like this technology is happening to us rather than with us and for us. The stakes are too high to defer decisions to a handful of companies and leaders within them.”
The core issue, according to Omidyar Network President Michele L. Jawando, is that tech giants are not prioritizing human-centric use cases. Their focus remains on maximizing profits, often leading to products that emphasize “efficiency” over what truly allows humans to “flourish.” Jawando cited OpenAI’s recent foray into the online marketplace with ChatGPT’s new capabilities as a virtual merchant for Etsy sellers or Uber Eats deliveries as an example of this commercial drive.
Acknowledging the Harms: Why Intervention is Crucial
The urgency for initiatives like Humanity AI stems from a recognition of tangible harms associated with unchecked AI development:
- Vulnerability and Companionship: Children turning to AI chatbots for companionship face unknown psychological and developmental risks.
- Misinformation and Disinformation: AI-generated deepfake videos significantly contribute to the online spread of false information, eroding trust and impacting democratic processes.
- Environmental Impact: The electricity-hungry nature of AI systems, with their heavy reliance on energy generated by fossil fuels, exacerbates climate change concerns.
- Economic Disruption: Economists express fears that AI is increasingly taking jobs, particularly from young or entry-level workers, potentially hindering economic opportunity.
Jawando further noted that the immense influence of tech companies, coupled with past regulatory rollbacks to speed up AI technology construction, highlighted the critical need for philanthropic leaders to provide more capital and collaboration to empower civil society.
Humanity AI’s Mandate: Centering People and Planet
Led by the MacArthur Foundation and Omidyar Network, Humanity AI aims to reclaim agency by actively supporting technology and advocates who prioritize human and planetary well-being. Member foundations are required to make grants in at least one of five critical priority areas:
- Advancing democracy
- Strengthening education
- Protecting artists
- Enhancing work
- Defending personal security
John Palfrey underscored the importance of creating opportunities for early career professionals, reflecting on the “American Dream” in an AI-driven future. He argues that AI decisions should begin with the question of how to ensure a brighter future for individuals and families, a stark contrast to merely focusing on building the “biggest and fastest” large language models.
A Diverse Coalition for a Collective Future
The breadth of the participating philanthropies underscores the widespread concern across various sectors. The coalition includes:
- Humanities Supporters: The Mellon Foundation and Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
- Tacklers of Inequality: The Ford Foundation and Omidyar Network
- Equitable Technology Funders: The Mozilla Foundation and Siegel Family Endowment
- Charitable Behemoths: The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and David and Lucile Packard Foundation
- Education Funders: Lumina Foundation
- Racial Equity Supporters: The Kapor Foundation
Nabiha Syed, Executive Director of the Mozilla Foundation, emphasized this collective vision: “The future belongs to those who actively create it, and that shan’t be a few leaders in Silicon Valley. It’s all of us. The systems shaping our lives must be powered by people, open by design, and fueled by imagination.”
Broader Philanthropic Efforts and Early Impact
Humanity AI is not the sole initiative addressing AI’s societal impact. Earlier this year, in July, the Gates Foundation and Ballmer Group announced a separate $1 billion commitment over 15 years to develop AI tools for public defenders, parole officers, social workers, and others assisting Americans in precarious situations. Other ongoing efforts aim to improve AI literacy and expand access for entrepreneurs in low-income countries, demonstrating a growing trend in philanthropy to guide AI development responsibly.
The Humanity AI coalition plans to expand its network, with partners coordinating grants this fall and pooling funds next year into a collaborative fund managed by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors. Early grantees include:
- The National Black Tech Ecosystem Association, which fosters diverse leadership in STEM.
- AI Now, a research institute at New York University dedicated to studying AI’s social implications.
- A Howard Law School initiative focused on developing AI solutions that advance civil rights.
- An increased grant from the MacArthur Foundation to the Pulitzer Center.
Michele L. Jawando passionately concluded, “The future will not be written by algorithms. It will be written by people as a collective force.” This bold statement encapsulates the spirit of Humanity AI: a determined effort to ensure artificial intelligence amplifies human needs rather than eroding them, guiding us toward a future that is not just efficient, but truly rich, robust, healthy, and safe.
