Schmidt Sciences

Schmidt Sciences is a philanthropic artificial intelligence and other fundamental-science research foundation founded in May 2024 by Eric Schmidt (former Google Chief Executive Officer and Chairman) and Wendy Schmidt. The organization consolidates earlier Schmidt-affiliated research-funding initiatives including Schmidt Futures AI components into a unified research foundation. Schmidt Sciences's research-funding programs span AI safety, AI for science, and other fundamental-science research, with cooperation across FutureHouse (the AI-for-science nonprofit), Kyutai (the French AI research lab), and other research organizations. As of April 2026, Schmidt Sciences is one of the principal philanthropic AI research-funding organizations globally, with a multi-year funding commitment exceeding $400 million.

At a glance

• Founded: May 2024 by Eric Schmidt and Wendy Schmidt. Consolidates earlier Schmidt Futures AI components.
• Status: Private philanthropic foundation.
• Funding: Eric and Wendy Schmidt personal commitment. Multi-year funding commitment exceeding $400 million across AI safety, AI for science, and other fundamental-science research programs.
• President / Lead: Stuart Feldman, President of Schmidt Sciences. Technology research leader.
• Other notable leadership: Eric Schmidt, Co-Founder. Wendy Schmidt, Co-Founder.
• Open weights: N/A. Schmidt Sciences provides research-funding rather than producing foundation models.
• Flagship outputs: Research-funding programs across AI safety, AI for science, and other fundamental-science research; cooperation with FutureHouse, Kyutai, and other research organizations.

Origins

Schmidt Sciences was founded in May 2024 by Eric Schmidt and Wendy Schmidt as a unified philanthropic research foundation consolidating earlier Schmidt-affiliated research-funding initiatives. The precursor Schmidt Futures organization (founded 2017 with AI research-funding components) had anchored earlier Schmidt-affiliated AI research funding through 2017 to 2024.

The May 2024 Schmidt Sciences founding included a multi-year funding commitment exceeding $400 million across AI safety, AI for science, and other fundamental-science research programs. The 2024 to 2026 period has seen Schmidt Sciences research-funding programs anchor cooperation with FutureHouse, Kyutai, and other research organizations.

Mission and strategy

Schmidt Sciences's mission is to advance fundamental scientific research through philanthropic funding, with focus on AI safety, AI for science, and other fundamental-science research programs. The strategy combines three threads. First, AI safety research-funding programs. Second, AI for science research-funding programs. Third, adjacent fundamental-science research-funding programs.

Distribution channels are predominantly research-funding distributions to academic and nonprofit research organizations.

Models and products

• AI safety research-funding programs. AI safety research-funding distributions.
• AI for science research-funding programs. AI-for-science research-funding distributions including support for FutureHouse and other organizations.
• Other fundamental-science research-funding programs.

Distribution channels are predominantly research-funding distributions.

Benchmarks and standing

Schmidt Sciences's evaluation framework focuses on research-funding program execution and impact across AI safety, AI for science, and other fundamental-science research. Industry coverage has consistently characterized Schmidt Sciences as one of the principal philanthropic AI research-funding organizations globally.

Leadership

As of April 2026, Schmidt Sciences's senior leadership includes:

• Stuart Feldman, President.
• Eric Schmidt, Co-Founder.
• Wendy Schmidt, Co-Founder.
• Senior program leadership across the AI safety, AI for science, and other fundamental-science research-funding programs.

Funding and backers

Eric and Wendy Schmidt personal commitment. Multi-year funding commitment exceeding $400 million.

Industry position

Schmidt Sciences occupies a distinctive position as one of the principal philanthropic AI research-funding organizations globally, with multi-year funding commitment, cooperation with FutureHouse, Kyutai, and other research organizations, and consolidation of earlier Schmidt-affiliated research-funding initiatives.

Competitive landscape

• Open Philanthropy. AI safety philanthropic-funding peer.
• Survival and Flourishing Fund. AI safety philanthropic-funding peer.
• The MacArthur Foundation, the Mozilla Foundation, and other philanthropic foundations. Non-AI-safety-focused philanthropic peers.
• FutureHouse, Kyutai. Schmidt Sciences-funded research organizations.
• NSF AI Institutes, DARPA AI Next, DOE INCITE, Canada Pan-Canadian AI. Government AI research-funding peer programs.

Outlook

• Continued multi-year research-funding program execution through 2026 to 2027.
• Continued cooperation with FutureHouse, Kyutai, and other research organizations.
• Continued philanthropic AI research-funding trajectory.

Sources

• Schmidt Sciences official site. Foundation reference.
• Eric Schmidt Wikipedia. Co-Founder reference.
• Wendy Schmidt Wikipedia. Co-Founder reference.
• Schmidt Futures. Predecessor organization.
• FutureHouse. Schmidt Sciences-funded research organization.