Kusaidia Jamii: Fahamu Wapokeaji wa Ruzuku za People-First AI Fund ya 2026

Leo OpenAI Foundation inatangaza uteuzi wa mashirika 163⁠ yatakayopokea jumla ya dola milioni 50 kupitia People-First AI Fund ya 2026. Mashirika haya yako katika majimbo 35 ya Marekani na Washington, D.C., na yanahudumia jamii za vijijini na mijini kote nchini. Kundi hili la pili linaendeleza People-First AI Fund ya awali ya dola milioni 50⁠ iliyoanzishwa na taasisi hii mwaka wa 2025.

Kupitia ruzuku zisizo na masharti ya matumizi, tunazipa taasisi hizi zinazoaminika rasilimali na uhuru wa kuchunguza jinsi AI inavyoweza kuimarisha kazi zao—na jinsi watu na jamii wanazohudumia zinavyoweza kushiriki katika matumizi yake na kuamua mwelekeo wake. Mfuko huu husaidia mashirika yasiyo ya faida katika kila hatua ya kujifunza na kujaribu AI, kuanzia yale yanayoanza kujiuliza teknolojia hii inaweza kuwezesha nini hadi yale yanayojaribu zana walizobuni kwa pamoja na jamii. Lengo letu ni kuyaunga mkono katika uongozi wao yanapojitahidi kuelewa teknolojia hii, athari zake na matumizi yanayosaidia zaidi kutimiza dhamira zao.

Mara nyingi, mashirika yasiyo ya faida ya eneo ndiyo mahali pa kwanza watu wanapoenda kutafuta msaada wa makazi au mafao ya ulemavu, kufurahia sanaa au kuelewa uamuzi unaoathiri mtaa wao. Kwa kuzingatia mafunzo kutoka kwa Mfuko wa 2025 na maoni ya jamii, Mfuko wa mwaka huu una vipaumbele vitatu: huduma za usaidizi kwa jamii, mashirika ya sanaa na utamaduni ya jamii, na uandishi wa habari na vyombo vya habari vya jamii.

Mfuko umeundwa bila kufungamanishwa na bidhaa yoyote: wapokeaji wa ruzuku wana uhuru kamili wa kuchagua—au kutochagua—zana au jukwaa lolote wanaloamini linafaa zaidi kwa kazi zao na jamii zao. Waombaji walieleza bidhaa mbalimbali za AI wanazotumia tayari au wanazotaka kujifunza zaidi kuzihusu, pamoja na maswali ambayo bado wanayo na wanayotaka kuchunguza kuhusu matumizi ya AI katika jamii zao.

Wapokeaji wengi wa ruzuku za mwaka huu ni washirika wapya wa Mfuko, pamoja na idadi ndogo ya waliowahi kupokea ruzuku hapo awali. Tunaangazia baadhi ya wapokeaji wa ruzuku hapa chini, na orodha kamili kwa mpangilio wa alfabeti inapatikana hapa⁠.

Huduma za Usaidizi kwa Jamii

Wageni wanachunguza ala za muziki na vitu vya kitamaduni vilivyowekwa mezani, wakiongozwa na mwasilishaji. — Picha: Nigerian Center

Mashirika yasiyo ya faida yenye mizizi katika jamii ni waelekezi wanaoaminika, wanaosaidia watu kupata msaada wa kisheria, makazi, chakula, huduma za ulemavu na mafao mengine muhimu. Yanawasaidia watu kuelewa chaguo walizo nazo na kupitia mifumo ambayo inaweza kuwa vigumu kuishughulikia peke yao, hasa pale vikwazo vya lugha, taratibu tata au uchache wa huduma za eneo unapofanya msaada kuwa mgumu zaidi kupatikana.

Miongoni mwa mashirika yanayofadhiliwa, mengi yanachunguza matumizi ya AI kuboresha utawala na shughuli zao, kwa lengo la kuwapa wafanyakazi muda zaidi na watu wanaowahudumia. Mashirika yasiyo ya faida ya jamii pia yanaona fursa za kutafsiri na kuunganisha taarifa, kuelewa na kufafanua sera tata za mafao, na kurahisisha maombi ili watu wapate mwongozo ulio wazi na unaowafaa wanapouhitaji.

Fahamu baadhi ya wapokeaji wa ruzuku zetu
Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance⁠ (CA) hutoa huduma za sheria za madai bila malipo kwa wakazi wa Kaunti ya Kern wanaokabiliwa na umaskini, ukosefu wa makazi ya uhakika na ulemavu, na inajaribu zana za AI kusaidia upokeaji wa wateja na utoaji wa nyenzo katika lugha nyingi.
JustFix⁠ (NY) inachunguza zana za AI kusaidia wapangaji kuelewa rekodi za kodi ya nyumba na kukabiliana na kufukuzwa kwenye nyumba, huku wapangaji, wahamasishaji wa jamii na washirika wa msaada wa kisheria wakishiriki kuamua mwelekeo wa kazi hiyo.
Rural Opportunity Institute⁠ (NC) husaidia shule za vijijini kupata fedha za umma kwa ajili ya huduma za afya ya akili kwa wanafunzi. Kwa kutumia AI kusaidia shughuli za ndani za kiutawala, ilisaidia shule washirika kuongeza mapato ya Medicaid maradufu na idadi ya wanafunzi wanaopata huduma za afya ya akili mara tatu.

Mashirika ya Sanaa na Utamaduni ya Jamii

Wachezaji densi waliovalia mavazi mekundu, ya machungwa na ya manjano wanaruka pamoja jukwaani huku wakiinua mikono. — Picha: Parsons Dance (Paula Lobo)

Mashirika ya sanaa na utamaduni huwafungulia watu njia ya kufurahia ubunifu, kwa kutoa maeneo ya kusikiliza muziki, kubuni sanaa, kuchunguza historia ya eneo na kujenga uhusiano na majirani. Yanawapa watu fursa za kushiriki katika shughuli za kitamaduni na kusaidia jamii kuhifadhi na kusimulia hadithi zao.

Waombaji wengi walionyesha nia ya kuchunguza au kutumia AI kuimarisha na kudumisha ushiriki katika kazi zao—kwa mfano, kusaidia kuwafikia wafadhili, kuelewa hadhira zao au kusaidia shughuli za ndani za kiutawala, wakitumaini kuzipa timu ndogo muda zaidi wa kusaidia wasanii na programu za jamii. Wengine wanachunguza jinsi AI inavyoweza kusaidia kazi za ubunifu kupitia njia mpya za maonyesho, usimulizi wa hadithi na ushiriki, huku wasanii na jamii wakishiriki kuamua jinsi zana hizo zinavyotumika.

Fahamu baadhi ya wapokeaji wa ruzuku zetu
Nashville Jazz Workshop⁠ (TN) inapanga kuwezesha utafutaji katika hifadhi yake ya matamasha na kuchunguza msaidizi wa AI wa kusikiliza muziki anayewasaidia wasikilizaji wapya kuufahamu muziki wa jazz.
August Wilson African American Cultural Center⁠ (PA) inapanga kutumia AI kurahisisha kazi za kiutawala na kuwapa wafanyakazi muda zaidi wa kusaidia wasanii na programu za jamii.
Library Foundation of Los Angeles⁠ (CA) husaidia Los Angeles Public Library⁠ na matawi yake 73 kupanua fursa za kujifunza kwa usawa na kuiwezesha jamii kutumia teknolojia mpya za AI bila malipo.

Uandishi wa Habari na Vyombo vya Habari vya Jamii

Kibandiko chenye maandishi “The LA Local” kwenye sehemu iliyofunikwa kwa tabaka za vibandiko, mabango na michoro ya grafiti. — Picha: The LA Local

Vyombo vya habari vya eneo vinachunguza na kutumia AI kusaidia mifumo mipya ya biashara, kuimarisha uripoti na kurahisisha upatikanaji na matumizi ya taarifa za kuaminika. Jambo lililojitokeza kwa waombaji na wapokeaji wa ruzuku walioteuliwa ni kuchunguza zana hizi ili kuongeza ushiriki wa wananchi katika masuala ya umma. Hii inajumuisha kutafsiri habari ili kufikia hadhira zaidi, kuwezesha upatikanaji wa rekodi za umma na kuwasaidia wakazi kuelewa maamuzi yanayoathiri maisha yao.

Mfuko umechagua kusaidia kazi hiyo kwa kutoa ruzuku za moja kwa moja kwa vyombo na mashirika mbalimbali ya habari vya eneo, pamoja na ruzuku zinazosaidia kupanua usaidizi wa Mfuko ili kufikia vyombo vingi zaidi. Haya ni pamoja na mashirika kama American Journalism Project⁠, linaloimarisha sekta ya habari za eneo isiyo ya faida kwa kuwekeza mtaji na kutoa usaidizi wa kimkakati kwa mtandao wa vyombo vya habari vyenye mizizi katika jamii, na Colorado News Collaborative⁠, linalounganisha mashirika 200 ya habari za eneo na kuratibu mtandao wa kujifunza kuhusu AI kote jimboni.

Fahamu baadhi ya wapokeaji wa ruzuku zetu
Honolulu Civil Beat⁠ (HI) hutumia AI kurahisisha utafutaji wa rekodi za umma kuhusu bunge la jimbo. Chombo hiki cha habari pia hutoa mafunzo bila malipo ili kusaidia wakazi kutumia taarifa hizo kushiriki katika masuala ya serikali.
California Black Media⁠ (CA) huunganisha na kuimarisha mtandao wa vyombo 30 vya habari vinavyomilikiwa na watu Weusi, ikisaidia wachapishaji kuchunguza matumizi ya AI katika shughuli za uandishi wa habari na kuanzisha vyanzo vipya vya mapato ili kuendeleza kazi zao.
Free Press Indiana⁠ (IN) husaidia vyombo viwili vya habari vinavyohudumia maeneo madogo, vikiangazia habari za mitaa na jamii za vijijini, makazi, serikali za mitaa na uwajibikaji kwa wananchi, na inachunguza matumizi ya AI katika tafsiri na ufikivu.

Mchakato Wetu

Mwaliko wa wazi wa Mfuko ulipokea maombi 1,669 kutoka kote nchini. Daniel Zingale, aliyeitisha Tume ya OpenAI ya Mashirika Yasiyo ya Faida⁠, alishirikiana na kundi la washauri wa nje kubuni na kutekeleza mchakato wa kutathmini maombi wa 2026. Kila ombi lililopokelewa lilitathminiwa na mtaalamu wa nje mwenye uzoefu wa kutoa ruzuku. Uteuzi ulisisitiza kuaminiwa na jamii, matokeo yaliyothibitishwa na njia iliyofikiriwa kwa makini ya kuchunguza AI.

Kutokana na mahitaji makubwa, tutagawanya dola milioni 50 zote kwa mashirika yaliyotuma maombi kupitia mwaliko wa wazi. Tunalenga kutoa kila ruzuku kikamilifu kabla ya mwisho wa 2026, ili mashirika yapate rasilimali mara moja na kuendeleza kazi zao za dharura.

Wapokeaji wa Ruzuku za People-First AI Fund ya 2026

18th Street Arts Center (CA)

accesSOS (CA)

Alaska Legal Services Corporation (AK)

Amarillo Symphony, Inc (TX)

American Journalism Project (DC)

Amigos For Kids (FL)

Art Division (CA)

Aspen Public Radio (CO)

Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project, Inc (NY)

August Wilson African American Cultural Center (PA)

Bienvenidos a Gallatin Valley (MT)

Black Girls Smile Inc. (GA)

Borderless (IL)

Bridges from School to Work Inc. (MD)

Bright Star Community Outreach (IL)

Brooklyn Ballet Inc (NY)

Brotherhood Crusade (CA)

Building Healthy Communities Monterey County (BHCMC) (CA)

California Black Media (CA)

California Immigration Project (CA)

Cambridge Community Television (CCTV) (MA)

Capital B News Inc (GA)

Center for Civic Innovation (GA)

Center for Common Ground (VA)

Central American Resource Center-CARECEN (DC)

Change Today, Change Tomorrow (CTCT) (KY)

Chinese Historical Society of America (CA)

CIERTO (CA)

City Bureau (IL)

Civilla (MI)

CO_LAB Theater Group (NY)

Colorado News Collaborative (CO)

Community Connections, Inc. (CO)

Community Matters (OH)

Courage to Caregivers (OH)

CreatiVets (TN)

Creser Capital Fund (CA)

CRLA Foundation (CA)

Dar-us-Sakina (TX)

Deaf Community Advocacy Network, Inc. (MI)

Deep South Today (MS)

Delaware Alliance for Nonprofit Advancement Inc. (DE)

Dell'Arte International (CA)

Despierta (NC)

Destiny Arts Center (CA)

Documented (NY)

Downtown Community Television Center, Inc. (NY)

Dream Machine (CA)

Economic Justice Institute (WI)

El Rescate (CA)

Enlace Latino NC (NC)

F Y Eye Inc. (NY)

Ferndale Senior Resource Agency (CA)

Florida PTA (FL)

Foot Soldiers Park Inc. (AL)

Franklin Township Food Bank (NJ)

Free Press Indiana (IN)

Friends of Fieldworkers, Inc (CA)

Gender Health Center (CA)

Georgia Appleseed Center for Law and Justice (GA)

Glide Memorial Church (CA)

Golden State Opportunity (CA)

Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc. (CA)

GRO Fund (GA)

Her Justice (NY)

Highlands Little Theatre Inc (FL)

Hispanas Organized for Political Equality - California (CA)

Hispanic Center of Western Michigan (MI)

Hollywood 4WRD (CA)

Homeboy Art Academy (CA)

Honolulu Civil Beat (HI)

Houston Freedmen's Town Conservancy Inc (TX)

Indigenous Journalists Association (OK)

Ink People Center for Arts and Culture (CA)

Integrated Community (CO)

International Examiner (WA)

Invisible Institute (IL)

Just Harvest (PA)

JustFix, Inc. (NY)

Justice at Work PA (PA)

Kern Community Foundation (CA)

Keshet Dance Company and Center for the Arts (NM)

Key to Change (WA)

Ladder to the Moon Network (ME)

Lafayette Urban Ministry (IN)

Latino Media Collaborative (CA)

Latino Media Consortium (TX)

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area (CA)

Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County (CA)

Legal Assistance for Seniors (CA)

Legal Assistance to the Elderly (CA)

Lemontree Foods (NY)

Levine Museum of the New South (NC)

Library Foundation of Los Angeles (CA)

Local Media Association (MI)

Lone Star Justice Alliance (TX)

LOOKOUT (AZ)

Los Angeles Community Garden Council (CA)

Louisiana Organization for Refugees and Immigrants (LA)

Louisville Public Media (KY)

Madison 365 (WI)

McKinleyville Family Resource Center (CA)

Merrick Community Services (MN)

Model Neighborhood Program (CA)

Moms First (NY)

Muralism (CA)

NAESM (GA)

NALEO Educational Fund (CA)

Nashville Jazz Workshop (TN)

Nation Outside (MI)

National Association for Media Literacy Education (NY)

National Council of Negro Women Inc. (DC)

New_ Public (CA)

NEWSWELL (AZ)

Nigerian Center Inc. (DC)

NowKalamazoo (MI)

One Generation Away (TN)

One Roof (AL)

Openhouse (CA)

Opera Lafayette (DC)

Opera Parallèle (CA)

Orchestra of St. Luke's (NY)

Parsons Dance (NY)

PICO California (CA)

Public Policy Lab (NY)

RADIO BILINGUE INC (CA)

REACH Riverside Development Corporation (DE)

Red Hook Art Project, Inc. (NY)

RiverWise Inc (PA)

Rural Opportunity Institute (NC)

Sacramento Ballet Association (CA)

Sahan Journal (MN)

Santa Fe Community Housing Trust (NM)

Scale Justice (NY)

Sierra Health Foundation (CA)

Somali Family Service of San Diego (CA)

Southern Vermont Arts Center (VT)

Spotlight PA (PA)

St. Croix Festival Theatre (WI)

Tech Council of Delaware (DE)

Televerde Foundation Inc (AZ)

Texas Advocacy Project Inc. (TX)

Texas Supremacy of Music & Arts Conservatory (TSMAC) (TX)

The Arc of Northern Virginia (VA)

The California Museum (CA)

The Hidden Genius Project (CA)

The LA Local (CA)

The Mockingbird Society (WA)

The People's Theatre (NY)

The Rural Behavioral Health Institute (MT)

Todec Legal Center Perris (CA)

TRADESWOMAN INCORPORATED (CA)

Travelers Aid of Greater Birmingham (AL)

Trusting News (FL)

UFW Foundation (CA)

United Way of Tulare County (CA)

UniteWI (WI)

Unity Gospel Choir International (UT)

Urban League of Greater San Francisco Bay Area (CA)

Veterans for All Voters (MO)

Wisconsin Watch (WI)

Yolo Food Bank (CA)

Youth Forward (CA)