AI Collaborative is a left-of-center policy organization dedicated to advancing left-of-center ideology and policy within artificial intelligence infrastructure and regulation. Formed in 2023 as part of the Omidyar Group, which is within eBay cofounder Pierre Omidyar’s network of left-of-center foundations, advocacy groups, and charitable activities. The group was formed with an initial $30 million investment from the Omidyar Network and was part of an AI funding initiative launched in 2023 by the Biden White House. The group also formed a partnership with the AFL-CIO Technology Institute, and is involved in a $400 million public interest AI initiative led by the French government called Current AI. ^{1 2}

Background

AI Collaborative was formed in December 2023 with a $30 million endowment from the Omidyar Network and operates as part of the Omidyar Group. Omidyar Network is an LLC created by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam Omidyar to make philanthropic “impact investments.” Its sister group, the Omidyar Network Fund, is a 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation. Omidyar Network and the Omidyar Network Fund are often referred to interchangeably or as the Omidyar Nexus, and both support causes including critical race theory-aligned visions of anti-racism and left-of-center economic regulations. As of 2016, they have spent over $1 billion across over 400 for-profit and nonprofit groups. The Omidyar Network has spun off several political and philanthropic groups, including Democracy Fund, Humanity United, and Luminate. ³

AI Collaborative was founded as part of a Biden administration White House initiative launched in 2023 to direct left-of-center funding towards advocating artificial intelligence regulation and an incorporation of left-of-center diversity, equity, and inclusion ideology in AI systems. The Biden White House initiative aimed to “collectively channel hundreds of millions of dollars into generative AI initiatives that augment human capability, improve the long-term effects of the technology on society, and address critical areas that currently lack sufficient funding.” ²

Partnerships

The AI Collaborative announced plans to work with partner organizations to “prioritize diversity in generative AI development and outcome accountability.” Partner groups have included Humane Intelligence, with which the collective launched the Collective Intelligence Project to “coordinate a series of ‘AI Alignment Assemblies,’ to bring a broader range of stakeholders into the conversation on AI governance and accountability.” ⁴

Labor Unions and Advocacy Groups

Another explicit goal of the AI Collective is to embed pro-labor union stances within artificial intelligence infrastructure and to provide unions with access to AI tools. The collective partnered with the AFL-CIO Technology Institute to use AI in grassroots lobbying efforts. ²

Other partners of the group include AI Now, Economic Security Project Action, and the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator. The group also announced plans for the Omidyar Network to also invest in private venture capital funds to “support companies that are using generative AI to innovate in healthcare diagnosis, chip design, next generation EV batteries, and analytics support for small and medium-sized businesses.” ⁴

French Government

In February 2025, the AI Collective was announced as a partner within a $400 million public interest AI initiative led by the Government of France. The partnership announced a goal of raising $2.5 billion over five years. Other partners within the initiative included Google, Salesforce, the Ford Foundation, the Patrick J. McGovern Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation. ¹

Martin Tisne, the CEO of the AI Collective, also served as France’s special envoy for public interest at the AI summit where the initiative was announced. ¹

1. “France, funders launch $400 million public interest AI initiative.” Philanthropy News Digest. February 12, 2025. Accessed July 21, 2025. https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/news/france-funders-launch-400-million-public-interest-ai-initiative
2. “Omidyar Network launches a dedicated funding effort to promote inclusive and responsible development of generative AI.” Omidyar Network. December 5, 2023. Accessed July 21, 2025. https://omidyar.com/update/omidyar-network-launches-a-dedicated-funding-effort-to-promote-inclusive-and-responsible-development-of-generative-ai/
3. “Omidyar Network.” Coutts. Accessed March 16, 2022. https://philanthropy.coutts.com/en/reports/2016/united-states/case-studies/omidyar-network.html#:~:text=Omidyar%20Network%20was%20established%20in,catalyze%20economic%20and%20social%20change
4. “Omidyar Network launches a dedicated funding effort to promote inclusive and responsible development of generative AI.” Omidyar Network. December 5, 2023. Accessed July 21, 2025. https://omidyar.com/update/omidyar-network-launches-a-dedicated-funding-effort-to-promote-inclusive-and-responsible-development-of-generative-ai/