The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is committing $100 million through 2031 to a new initiative focused on the security implications of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and quantum computing. Building on $10 million in exploratory grants already distributed this February to organizations like Stanford’s Hoover Institution and Vanderbilt University’s Institute of National Security, the five-year effort aims to address a gap in balancing innovation with safety. “The public sees industry moving quickly and government moving slowly, and they’re worried that neither can balance innovation and security on their own,” said Hewlett Foundation President Amber D. The initiative will support independent institutions globally, concentrating on protecting critical infrastructure, addressing emerging technology vulnerabilities, and fostering responsible global governance of these rapidly developing fields.
The initiative aims to bolster security measures alongside technological advancement, recognizing the interconnectedness of progress and safety. As Hewlett Foundation President Amber D. stated, “We view embracing progress and tackling safety risks not as competing approaches but as natural complements.” A core focus of the initiative is bridging a perceived gap between public expectations and the pace of innovation in both industry and government, with the foundation positioning itself as a crucial intermediary. Eli Sugarman, Hewlett’s director of Special Projects, emphasized the need for practical solutions, stating that the foundation also plans constructive engagement with technology companies while maintaining the independence vital to civil society’s role in ensuring responsible technological development.
Rapidly emerging technologies like AI hold extraordinary promise while they also pose novel security challenges. We view embracing progress and tackling safety risks not as competing approaches but as natural complements.
Amber D., Hewlett Foundation President
The escalating potential for artificial intelligence to compromise essential services is driving a new wave of funding toward bolstering defenses. The Hewlett Foundation’s recently announced $100 million Emerging Technology and Security Initiative specifically prioritizes the protection of critical infrastructure, recognizing vulnerabilities in systems ranging from power grids to hospitals. Grantmaking will focus on defending these systems against AI-enabled threats, both domestically and internationally, acknowledging the growing sophistication of potential attacks. Hewlett Foundation President Amber D.
Too much of the debate over AI and emerging technology has people talking past each other, while the questions that matter most to ordinary people – about their safety, and how AI will impact their families and their futures – go unanswered.
Eli Sugarman, Hewlett’s director of Special Projects
This phased approach signals a deliberate, long-term strategy to address the complex interplay between technological advancement and global security, with grantmaking scheduled to continue through 2031. Hewlett Foundation President Amber D. stated that this focus on governance reflects a belief that proactive rules and norms are essential to harness the benefits of emerging technologies while mitigating potential risks.
They can help ensure that these transformative technologies strengthen democratic societies and foster innovation in service of human flourishing while keeping people safe from the vulnerabilities they create and bad actors who would misuse them.
See today’s quantum computing news on Quantum Zeitgeist for the latest breakthroughs in qubits, hardware, algorithms, and industry deals.
