CloudWalk, the global financial technology company behind the brands InfinitePay and Jim.com, has just launched the first edition of its artistic and artificial intelligence research residency, which will offer monthly grants of R$10,000 to the three selected participants. Registrations can be made here.
Described as “brainfunk, psychedelic, and anthropophagic” (“mind-blowing, psychedelic, and anthropophagic”), the initiative will select up to three human-machine collaborative proposals aligned with the research areas of Art, Cognition and Consciousness and Payment Games. The goal is to reinforce the fintech’s commitment to exploring the boundaries between technology, creativity, and innovation.
Inspired by the search for an “artificial El Dorado,” CloudWalk invites Brazilian researchers from any field to submit projects that pioneer new paths in artificial intelligence. According to its official website, the program’s mission is to ‘create cracks in the “black box” of AI, explore alternative paths in the latent space of AI models, and test the limits of alignment.’
The fundamental selection criterion for the residency, aimed at researchers residing in Brazil, is that the proposals be “brainfu*k” — that is, they should have the potential to disrupt prevailing ideas.
According to Pedro Terra, CloudWalk’s AI Director, the program is another step in the work CloudWalk has been carrying out in the field of Artificial Intelligence since 2019.
“At CloudWalk, our journey with AI goes beyond conventional applications in the payments sector, such as fraud, credit, and customer support. Our vision extends to the post-AGI horizon, exploring less obvious territories like consciousness and artificial life. I believe the convergence of art, intelligence, consciousness, and life will allow us to better understand the unfiltered nature of the latent space of language models—a reality that will soon be omnipresent. This imminent future demands deep and multifaceted analysis. Art, alongside science, serves as a tool for exploring these new frontiers. To navigate what lies ahead, we must embrace diverse perspectives and strategies of understanding,” he says.
Structure
To participate, candidates must submit their proposals by January 31, 2025, with no format restrictions. The fintech promises to evaluate each idea, prioritizing projects that demonstrate execution potential and creativity.
The residency will last three months, starting in March 2025 and ending in June 2025. During this period, selected participants will develop, refine, or complete their projects with CloudWalk’s support. In addition to the monthly grant of R$10,000, the fintech will provide:
- Resources: Access to advanced software, hardware, and specialized tools to enable project execution.
- Mentorship: Biweekly meetings with a committee to monitor progress.
- Flexibility: The option to conduct research remotely or at CloudWalk’s facilities in São Paulo, with access to collaborative spaces and the company’s technology team.
At the end of the program, participants will present their results at an event organized by CloudWalk, attended by experts and guests.
Who can participate
Brazilian researchers over 18 years old with proven academic or professional experience in their fields may apply. Teams of up to three members are also accepted, as long as a primary representative is designated.
Selection criteria include innovation, potential impact, and alignment with the program’s three focus areas: Art, Cognition and Consciousness, and Payment Games.
Key highlights of the program’s terms:
- Each monthly grant will be R$10,000 per selected project, regardless of team size.
- Intellectual property of the projects will be shared between CloudWalk and the researchers, allowing both parties to use and develop the results independently.
- Researchers may submit up to two proposals, but only one will be selected per candidate or team.
Vision for the Future
Through this residency program, CloudWalk reinforces its commitment not only to transforming payment technology but also to advancing the frontiers of knowledge in artificial intelligence and human-machine collaboration.
