Trump administration awards $5B for AI-led science projects under Genesis Mission

In short: The Trump administration announced $5 billion in new federal grants for hundreds of science projects that use AI, as it promotes a broader plan to steer US research toward AI, robotics, and nuclear energy.

What happened

The White House unveiled the first round of “Genesis Mission” grants, directing $5 billion to 278 projects. The projects were picked from more than 5,000 applications, according to reporting cited by The Verge.

The administration says the goal is to use AI, meaning computer systems that can spot patterns and generate outputs, to speed up scientific work. The projects span areas like drug discovery, biomedical science, energy, advanced materials, and robotics.

The US Department of Energy led this funding round. It said the effort will bring together national labs, companies, and universities, with a focus on energy, discovery science, and national security. The Verge reports that companies including Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI are also providing support like computing resources, which are the powerful computers needed to run AI (like renting time on a fleet of very fast machines).

At the same time, Trump’s science adviser Michael Kratsios promoted a “New Golden Age” science agenda on Capitol Hill. The Verge notes Kratsios has no science background, and previously worked in tech policy and finance.

Why it matters

This funding push comes alongside reports of wider cuts and cancellations in other research areas. Researchers quoted by The Verge warn that treating science like a startup can favor fast and measurable results, even though basic research often takes years and has uncertain outcomes (like planting seeds without knowing which will grow). How the government balances AI-focused grants with support for universities and long-term research could affect future medical advances, energy technology, and the US research workforce.

Source: The Verge AI