FirstPrinciples Foundation

FirstPrinciples Foundation is a non-profit organization on a mission to help researchers use AI for new approaches to discovery in fundamental science.

Scientific progress has often been shaped by new tools that expand our ability to observe and understand the universe. Artificial intelligence is the latest of these, and perhaps the most far-reaching. While the potential is significant, so too is the associated responsibility, which calls for careful thought about how these systems can contribute to scientific work.

FirstPrinciples Foundation was established to support researchers navigating this shift. We focus on fundamental science, particularly physics, where increasingly complex data and research problems are opening new opportunities for AI-assisted discovery. We believe that helping researchers explore these approaches is a meaningful investment in the future of science.
Our funding philosophy is grounded in the belief that scientific progress requires both ambition and patience. We are particularly interested in research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and fundamental science, where new tools and methods may help researchers investigate increasingly complex questions.

In practice, that means supporting exploratory work, documenting lessons learned, and helping build a stronger foundation for future researchers. Because this field is still emerging, we are also drawn to projects that test unproven ideas and deepen our collective understanding of how AI can support scientific discovery.
FirstPrinciples Foundation invests in research that explores how artificial intelligence can contribute meaningfully to scientific discovery. We are particularly interested in work that moves beyond AI as a productivity tool to investigate its role in scientific reasoning, hypothesis generation, mathematical exploration, and other parts of the research process. We believe the methods and practices developed today will shape how AI is woven into scientific work in the years ahead.

Our focus spans fundamental and computational physics, as well as emerging interdisciplinary fields where AI may enable new approaches to research. This includes exploring questions that may not fit neatly within traditional disciplinary or funding boundaries.