Manifund funding goal
$203,000
$258,000
$250K raised
APEC, Bangkok 2026
APEC, Bangkok 2026
Project Details
Updated 10/16/26 · By grantmaking.aiProject summary
AI Safety Asia (AISA) is a non-profit working to make Asia a leader in safe and responsible AI. This project supports our next phase of work: helping governments across Asia prepare for and coordinate on AI risks, including cross-border AI incidents.
What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?
Goal: help decision-makers in Asia build the relationships, shared understanding and practical tools they need to respond to serious AI risks.
How we will do it:
- Convening: closed-door scenario-based exercises with senior officials and technical experts. (APEC, Bangkok)
- Research: policy analysis on catastrophic and cross-border AI risks, with a focus on Asia.
- Capacity-building: turning discussions into follow-up, such as working groups, pilots and briefings.
How will this funding be used?
- Staff and contractor time for programme delivery and research
- Convening and exercise costs (logistics, travel, materials)
- Operations and administration
Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?
AISA is a recognised member of the global AI governance ecosystem. Part of UNESCO's Global Civil Society Organizations and Academic Network on AI Ethics and Policy, the World Economic Forum's AI Governance Alliance, an official affiliate of the International Association for Safe and Ethical AI (IASEAI) as well as a partner organisation of Partnership on AI.
Recent work:
- Delivered a ministerial-level session on AI crisis diplomacy at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, with senior government and technical speakers
- Delivered a TTX on AI enabled crisis in Geneva 2006 at the sidelines of AI for Good
- Published research on AI governance with partners including Chatham house and Brookings Institute
What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?
Likely causes:
- Limited availability of senior officials
- A shifting political environment
How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?
People
Updated 10/16/26 · By grantmaking.aicreator
Funding Details
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- $258,000
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from Laidir Foundationmanifund.org
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SSerhat5d
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I went through the proposal, and I'm struggling to see what the $258k is actually expected to achieve beyond another round of high-level meetings.
Tabletop exercises can be useful, but where is the evaluation methodology? How are you measuring preparedness before and after the exercises? Who independently assesses the decisions participants make, and how do you verify that identified weaknesses actually get fixed?
Building relationships, improving understanding, and forming working groups are activities. They're not evidence that governments have become better at handling AI incidents.
You also received 100k for the India AI Impact Summit, where you set specific targets: 3–4 jointly developed proposals and at least one with senior decision-maker support. Were those targets met? Did anything translate into an implemented protocol, funded pilot, or operational change?
The budget is another concern. For a $258k request, listing staff, events, and administration without a detailed breakdown makes it difficult to assess cost-effectiveness.
And the failure section mainly mentions unavailable officials and political changes. Those are external obstacles, not criteria for determining whether your intervention actually works.
Frankly, I'm also disappointed that this proposal has attracted funding without these methodological questions being publicly answered. And I think the funders deserve scrutiny here too. Did you actually examine the methodology and evidence before committing money? Did you ask for independent evaluation, measurable outcomes, or proof that previous exercises accomplished anything beyond producing reports and meetings?
Funding AI safety research should require more than plausible narratives and institutional credibility. Where is the scientific rigor?
My question is: What concrete, independently verifiable result would demonstrate that these exercises actually improve AI crisis preparedness? And what result would convince you that the approach isn't working?
Without clear answers, I don't see how we're supposed to distinguish a successful AI safety intervention from a well-organized conference.
Approved! AISA seems to have a good track record, and understanding of AI by policymakers in Asia is a very important cause.