Ethical AI Studio

Mitigating the negative impacts of digital technology
Apply now
At a time when digital technologies underpin nearly every facet of life and massive global investment is fueling the growth of digital applications powered by AI, there is an opportunity to rethink the future of data science and address the harmful impacts of these systems. Promoting ethical algorithms and data practices requires a united effort to shift the paradigm and ensure that technology benefits humanity.

In partnership with Globant, the Ethical AI Studio integrates advanced digital technologies with socially responsible frameworks to ensure the ethical design, implementation, and scaling of AI. These efforts aim to directly address the unintended harms caused by digital innovations, while promoting individual rights, privacy, non-discrimination, and non-manipulation. The Studio is actively seeking early-stage technology companies to work alongside industry to develop and test new products and solutions that will promote wellbeing and restore the public’s trust in emerging technologies.
Studio partner
Studio partner
The Ethical AI Studio seeks strategic collaboration with startups, corporations, investors, and organizations to join Newlab as we advance Artificial Intelligence to mitigate the negative effects of digital technologies.
Inquire about collaboration
Open Call

Info Session


Who Should Apply?

Early-stage ventures seeking to integrate and scale their ethical AI products to create safer gaming and metaverse spaces or enable inclusive and transparent algorithms for life sciences and healthcare. Specifically, the Studio is seeking companies working on AI solutions including but not limited to:

  • Explainable algorithms
  • Data and algorithmic model auditing
  • Synthetic and augmented data
  • Easy AI building
  • Toxicity detection
  • Player management systems
  • AI speech moderation
  • Fact checking tools
  • Bot vulnerability analysis
  • Credibility tools
  • Privacy enhanced computing
  • Identity verification

Benefits

Investment & Exposure

  • $100K USD total grant funding pool divided among participating companies to support pilot development and offset associated costs; no equity taken.
  • Access to Newlab's wide network of over 600 angel investors interested in early stage deep-tech companies.
  • Close collaboration with Globant including the Be Kind Tech Fund and relevant business units.
Build & Pilot
  • Structured strategy and support from Newlab to advance your pilot concept in collaboration with key stakeholders to support customer discovery, uncover technology requirements, meet compliance requirements and launch new products.
  • Ongoing support from the Newlab team, Globant and a network of relevant stakeholders to test and iterate your solution.
  • Access to digital assets and subject matter experts.
Community & Space
  • Access to the Newlab flagship location in Brooklyn, NY and peer community of 250+ companies scaling transformative technology.
  • Engagement with leading industry, venture, and academic experts through curated programming and office hours.
  • Access to $5M in on-site prototyping resources and product realization team; 84,000 sq ft industrial work space, and compute testbed infrastructure in the 300-acre Brooklyn Navy Yard.


Apply now

Focus Areas
Safer Online Gaming and Metaverse Spaces

Testing and deploying solutions that utilize AI to foster a positive and safe online gaming and metaverse experience.

Areas of interest include but are not limited to:

  • Automated detection of non-text based forms of abuse
  • Better understanding context and intent in online interactions
  • Tracking interactions across platforms
  • Promoting and rewarding prosocial behaviors
  • Preventing the spread of misinformation in online gaming or nascent metaverse spaces

Inclusive and Transparent Algorithms for Life Sciences and Healthcare

Creating and validating solutions that ensure the algorithms deployed and data practices used across healthcare and life sciences are ethical, inclusive and transparent.

Areas of interest include but are not limited to:

  • Training AI models with more representative, diverse, and/or augmented data sets.
  • Detect potential biases in the design and deployment of algorithms.
  • Enable usage of medical data without impinging on patient privacy.
  • Ensure reliable information for R&D and diagnostic purposes.
  • Detect and deter scientific and public health disinformation.

Timeline
Open Call Launch
August 10, 2022
Info Session I
August 22, 2022
Info Session II
September 15, 2022
Open Call Deadline
September 21, 2022
Startups Selected
October, 2022
Startups Devlop Pilots
October - February, 2023
Demo Day
March, 2023
Follow-on Support
March - April, 2023
About Globant

Globant is a digitally native company that helps organizations reinvent themselves and unleash their potential–a place where innovation, design, and engineering meet scale. Globant thrives by reinventing businesses and transforming organizations to be ready for a digital and cognitive future, providing world-class opportunities for talent to make a positive impact around the world.

In November 2021, Globant launched the Be Kind Tech Fund, a US$10 million corporate venture fund, administered by Globant Ventures. The fund looks to attract global startups seeking support developing apps, products, and platforms focused on mitigating the negative effects of technology.

The Be Kind Tech Fund is a new category of investment fund, the first solely dedicated to tackling the facets of tech causing the most harm to societies around the world. Globant believes in the power of collective action, and alongside its partners–Fortune 500 companies, leading VCs, prestigious universities, entrepreneurial ecosystem organizations, and thought leaders–the Be Kind Tech Fund is creating a movement to guarantee technology remains a force for good.

About Newlab Studios Uruguay

Newlab Studios Uruguay—led by Ministerio de Industria, Energia y Minas (MIEM) ; Laboratorio Tecnológico del Uruguay (LATU); the National Agency for Research and Innovation (ANII); and Newlab; with corporate sponsors and inaugural private-sector participants—is cultivating an innovation ecosystem comprised of entrepreneurs, industry experts, venture partners and academics from Uruguay, other countries in Latin America, and around the world. In alignment with the goals of the Test Uruguay initiative—a national strategy to attract investment and talent from all over the world to drive innovation and economic growth—Newlab Studios Uruguay enables innovators to launch businesses that support the region’s established industries and Uruguay’s vision for a sustainable future.

At Newlab

Accepting applications now through September 21

Apply now