by Schmidt Sciences
Schmidt Sciences AI2050 supports visionary researchers working on the hardest and most important questions in AI — the kind of interdisciplinary, high-risk work that traditional funders often overlook.
Apply NowVaries (generous multi-year grants)
2–5 years
Global
Open to researchers at any career stage (with separate tracks for senior and early-career scholars). Applicants must hold a PhD or equivalent and be affiliated with or willing to be hosted by a research institution. No citizenship restrictions.
Annual (typically opens in spring)
June 2026
The AI2050 program, backed by Schmidt Sciences (the philanthropic initiative of Eric and Wendy Schmidt), funds researchers tackling the most consequential open questions in artificial intelligence. The program is built on the premise that AI will be one of the most transformative technologies of the century, and that answering fundamental questions about its trajectory, safety, and societal impact requires bold, interdisciplinary thinking.
AI2050 offers two fellowship tracks. The Senior Fellowship is aimed at established researchers who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in AI-related fields, while the Early Career Fellowship targets promising scholars earlier in their academic journey. Both tracks provide generous, flexible funding designed to free researchers from the constraints of short grant cycles and narrow disciplinary silos.
The program specifically seeks out work that bridges disciplines — combining computer science with philosophy, neuroscience, economics, law, or other fields — to address questions about AI alignment, robustness, fairness, and long-term impact. Past fellows have worked on topics ranging from mathematical foundations of deep learning to the socioeconomic consequences of automation.
AI2050 fellowships provide substantial, flexible funding that allows researchers to pursue ambitious, long-term projects without the pressure of annual renewal cycles.
The program offers two distinct tracks designed for researchers at different career stages, each with its own selection criteria and funding levels.
AI2050 uses a rigorous, multi-stage selection process guided by a distinguished advisory board of scientists, technologists, and thinkers.
Discover other fellowships and find problems to work on.