Utah launches $5 million grant program to fund human-focused AI projects
Utah has introduced the AI Moonshot Program, offering up to $1 million in grants to develop artificial-intelligence applications that benefit people.
Utah unveiled the AI Moonshot Program, a $5 million effort to support artificial-intelligence projects that prioritize human welfare. Governor Spencer Cox said the state will actively shape AI development rather than observe it from the sidelines. Funded by the Higher Education Research Funding Pilot and run by the Nucleus Institute, the program seeks proposals in health care, human flourishing, natural-resource management, autonomous technology and other high-impact areas.
Applications open on Aug. 1 and close on Oct. 15, with grants ranging from $50,000 Spark awards to $1 million Moonshot awards, all requiring a Utah university president’s endorsement. The initiative builds on Utah’s recent AI policy moves, including a controversial child-focused AI bill and the creation of an Office of AI Policy in 2024. Senator Ted Cruz has cited the program as a model for potential federal legislation.
Why it matters
State funding for human-centric AI could steer the technology toward public benefits and set a model for other regions.
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