## Geoff Ralston Bets on Responsible AI with New “SAIF” Fund
Geoff Ralston, former president of Y Combinator and a familiar face in the startup ecosystem, is diving back into the investment world with a focused mission: ensuring the safe and responsible development of artificial intelligence. Ralston announced the launch of his new venture, the Safe Artificial Intelligence Fund (SAIF), on Thursday. The fund’s name cleverly reflects its core thesis.
SAIF aims to invest in startups dedicated to enhancing AI safety, security, and responsible deployment. According to the fund’s website, Ralston plans to deploy $100,000 checks using the SAFE (Simple Agreement for Future Equity) investment vehicle – a tool pioneered by Y Combinator. The fund will have a $10 million cap.
While the AI investment landscape is crowded, Ralston’s focus distinguishes SAIF. He is specifically targeting startups whose primary objective is AI safety.
“The vast majority of AI projects out in the world today are using the technology to solve problems or create efficiencies or create new capabilities. They are not necessarily intrinsically unsafe, but safety is not their primary concern,” Ralston told TechCrunch. “I intend to fund startups whose primary objective is safe AI — as I have (very broadly) defined it.”
The fund will target a broad range of companies. This includes ventures working to improve AI transparency by clarifying AI decision-making processes and those developing benchmarks for AI safety. SAIF also seeks to invest in solutions that protect intellectual property, ensure AI compliance, combat disinformation, and detect AI-generated attacks. Furthermore, Ralston is interested in functional AI tools built with inherent safety features, like advanced AI forecasting platforms and AI-powered negotiation tools designed to prevent the inadvertent disclosure of confidential information.
Ralston makes it clear that some AI applications are off-limits. Fully autonomous weapons are a prime example.
“There are certainly uses of AI which would (will) be unsafe: using the technology to create bioweapons, to manage conventional weapons without a human in the loop, etc.,” he explained. He expressed interest in funding “weapon safety systems” capable of detecting and preventing AI weapon attacks. This stance contrasts with some viewpoints within the defense tech sector, where some advocate for autonomous AI weapon systems.
Ralston hopes his experience at Y Combinator, where he served as president for three years and an advisor for over a decade before departing in 2022, will give him a competitive edge. He plans to mentor the startups he invests in, offering guidance similar to his time at the accelerator. He will also help them navigate the Y Combinator application process and leverage his extensive investor network.
While Ralston has kept specific details about the fund’s size, the number of startups he intends to support, and the identities of his Limited Partner (LP) backers under wraps, his new fund signals a dedicated push towards a more responsible and secure AI future.