Google has unveiled the Digital Futures Project, a new initiative aimed at promoting responsible AI research and public policy solutions. To support this endeavor, Google.org, the company's charitable arm, is establishing a $20 million fund. This fund will provide grants to think tanks and academic institutions focusing on AI expertise. Google aims to support independent thinkers investigating various aspects of AI's impact, including global security, labor transformation, government productivity, and responsible AI innovation.

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The move comes at a time when responsible AI has gained significant attention, with Google, OpenAI, Microsoft, and others forming the Frontier Model Forum to ensure safe AI development. In the backdrop of these developments, the U.S. Congress is set to discuss AI in a closed-door meeting with top tech leaders, including Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. While Google has previously published AI principles, it is now focusing on collaborative efforts, recognizing that getting AI right requires the collective involvement of academia and civil society to ensure that this transformative technology benefits everyone.

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