The Trump administration on Thursday unveiled the first 'Genesis Mission' grants, directing $5 billion toward hundreds of AI-driven science projects in an effort the White House has described as 'comparable in urgency and ambition to the Manhattan Project,' according to The Verge.
Key facts
- The Trump administration unveiled the first 'Genesis Mission' grants on Thursday, according to The Verge.
- The initiative directs $5 billion toward hundreds of AI-driven science projects.
- The White House described the effort as 'comparable in urgency and ambition to the Manhattan Project.'
- Trump's science adviser Michael Kratsios was on Capitol Hill at around the same time, pitching lawmakers on the administration's plans, according to The Verge.
The Trump administration on Thursday unveiled the first grants under its new ‘Genesis Mission,’ directing $5 billion toward hundreds of AI-driven science projects, according to The Verge. The White House has described the initiative as an effort ‘comparable in urgency and ambition to the Manhattan Project.’
The Manhattan Project was the World War II programme that produced the first atomic bomb. The Verge reported that the administration invoked that comparison to convey the scale and urgency it attaches to the new funding.
According to The Verge, the rollout coincided with an appearance by Trump’s science adviser, Michael Kratsios, on Capitol Hill, where he was pitching lawmakers on the administration’s plans.
The Verge characterised the announcement as the start of what it called ‘the tech-broification of American science’ — the outlet’s own framing, referring to what it described as the growing influence of Silicon Valley figures in federal science policy.
The details of which specific projects will receive funding, and how the grants will be distributed across research fields, were not specified in the available reporting. It is also not yet clear whether Congress will back the initiative.
Why it matters
A $5 billion federal push to embed artificial intelligence in American science could influence how public research is funded and prioritised. The administration's Manhattan Project comparison signals it views AI-driven research as a national priority, though the allocation of funds and congressional support remain unclear.
Frequently asked questions
How much money is the Genesis Mission directing toward AI science projects?
The initiative is directing $5 billion toward hundreds of AI-driven science projects, according to The Verge.
How has the White House described the Genesis Mission?
The White House described the effort as 'comparable in urgency and ambition to the Manhattan Project.'
Who is Michael Kratsios and what is his role?
Michael Kratsios is Trump's science adviser, who was on Capitol Hill selling lawmakers on the administration's vision around the time the grants were unveiled.