New Free Tool Shows Who Funds AI Safety Research

AI safety is a huge deal — billions of dollars are being poured into making sure artificial intelligence doesn't hurt people. But until now, it was surprisingly hard to see where that money actually goes. Trace, a new project from Manifund, changes that. It's a free, searchable database tracking $2.8 billion in AI safety funding, covering more than 4,500 grants made by over 700 funders to over 1,800 recipients — all the way back to 2003.

Why does this matter to you? Because AI safety isn't just a niche tech topic. It's about preventing AI systems from causing real-world harm — from biased hiring tools to autonomous weapons. Knowing who funds this research helps you understand which ideas are getting traction, which organizations are most influential, and where potential conflicts of interest might exist. Trace lets you look up a company or university and instantly see who's given them money and for what.

Trace was born from frustration. The creators kept needing answers to simple questions like "How much has this person raised?" and found that existing lists were incomplete. So they built their own, pulling from public sources and updating it automatically. When exact numbers aren't available, they include clearly marked estimates. It's not perfect — it focuses on AI safety, though it also includes some animal welfare grants that came bundled in.

You can use the website, download the full dataset, or even connect it to other tools. If you spot a mistake or have grant data to share, they encourage you to contribute. For a field known for closed-door decisions, that's a breath of fresh air — and a powerful tool for anyone who wants to hold AI's biggest backers accountable.