The National Science Foundation (NSF) and NVIDIA have announced a partnership to fund the Allen Institute for AI (Ai2) in developing fully open artificial intelligence models, aiming to accelerate scientific discovery and secure US leadership in AI-driven innovation .
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nsf.govThe collaboration involves $75 million from NSF and an additional $77 million from NVIDIA, totaling $152 million to support the Open Multimodal AI Infrastructure to Accelerate Science (OMAI) project .
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ainvest.comThis initiative seeks to create advanced AI tools tailored for the US scientific community, enabling researchers to process data faster and connect new findings with past discoveries across disciplines like materials science, biology, and energy .
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nsf.govThe partnership aligns with the White House AI Action Plan, which emphasizes advancing open-source models to maintain American dominance in global AI research."These investments are not just about enabling innovation; they are about securing US global leadership in science and technology," stated Brian Stone, performing the duties of NSF director .
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nsf.govThe project also aims to build a national AI-ready workforce by expanding participation beyond traditional tech hubs, enhancing America’s competitiveness in critical technologies .
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ainvest.comAi2 will lead the OMAI project, creating open-source, multimodal large language models trained on scientific data and literature.These tools will allow researchers to generate code, visualize data, and improve protein function prediction for biomedical advancements, addressing gaps in current AI systems .
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nsf.govThe initiative’s scope includes accelerating material discovery and refining large language models, with initial applications targeting breakthroughs in energy research and drug development .
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ainvest.comThe collaboration underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in fostering innovation."AI is the engine of modern science," said NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang."This partnership will empower US scientists to generate limitless intelligence, making it America’s most powerful resource." The project also involves academic partners such as the University of Washington, the University of Hawaii at Hilo, and the University of New Mexico, expanding its reach across diverse research communities .
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news.cs.washington.eduA key focus of OMAI is transparency and reproducibility.By openly releasing model weights, training data, and code, the team aims to build trust in AI tools while enabling rigorous scientific validation."Fully-open AI is not just a preference—it’s a necessity," said Ai2 CEO Ali Farhadi, emphasizing the need for collaborative ecosystems to drive technological progress .
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nsf.govThe project also seeks to address vulnerabilities in AI systems, ensuring they meet high standards of reliability and security.The NSF’s Mid-Scale Research Infrastructure program funds this effort, bridging the gap between individual research grants and large-scale national facilities."OMAI represents a landmark investment in the technology infrastructure needed to power AI-driven science," noted Brian Stone, highlighting its potential to transform scientific discovery and tackle previously insurmountable challenges .
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news.cs.washington.eduThis initiative reflects broader efforts to position the US as a global leader in AI innovation.By democratizing access to advanced tools, the partnership aims to unlock new possibilities for researchers, fostering breakthroughs that benefit society across industries and disciplines.As the project unfolds, its success could redefine how scientific research is conducted, leveraging open AI to drive the next era of technological advancement.
