On June 26, 2025, a significant event in the world of artificial intelligence and higher education was announced: the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is launching a new Laude Institute, which will focus on AI research and development. Andy Konwinski, co-founder of renowned companies like Databricks and Perplexity, announced the establishment of a $100 million fund that will direct grants and support to this institute. This unprecedented level of funding aims to accelerate cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence, fostering innovation and training the next generation of AI specialists. The Laude Institute at UC Berkeley is set to become a leading hub, attracting top minds to work on fundamental and applied AI challenges, including machine learning, computer vision, natural language processing, and robotics. This investment underscores the growing recognition of universities critical role in shaping the future of AI technologies and their potential to address global challenges.
UC Berkeley Launches AI Institute with $100M Fund
