CloudWalk, the global financial technology company owner of the brands InfinitePay and Jim.com, has just launched the first edition of its artistic and research residency in artificial intelligence, which will offer R$10,000 monthly scholarships to the three selected participants. Registrations can be madehere.
Described as “brainfunk, psychedelic, and anthropophagic,” the initiative will select up to three human-machine collaborative proposals that fit into the research linesArt, Cognition and ConsciousnessandPaying 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 explore new paths in artificial intelligence. The program's proposal, according to its official website, is "to open gaps in the AI 'black box,' 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," meaning they have the potential to cause an earthquake in the current ideas.
According to Pedro Terra, CloudWalk's AI Director, the program is another step in the work that has been carried out by CloudWalk in the field of Artificial Intelligence since 2019.
“At Cloudwalk, our journey with AI goes beyond conventional applications in the payments industry, such as fraud, credit, and customer support. Our vision extends to the post-AGI horizon, exploring less obvious territories such as consciousness and artificial life. I believe that 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 ubiquitous. This imminent future demands deep and multifaceted analysis. Art, along with science, serves as a tool for exploring these new frontiers. To navigate what lies ahead, we need to embrace diverse perspectives and strategies for understanding,” he says.
Structure
To participate, candidates must submit their proposals by theJanuary 31, 2025, with no format restrictions. A fintech promises to evaluate each idea, prioritizing the selection of projects that demonstrate potential for execution and creativity.
The residency will last three months, starting in March 2025 and ending in June 2025. During this period, selected participants will be able to develop, improve, or complete their projects with the support of CloudWalk. In addition to the monthly stipend of R$ 10,000, the fintech will provide:
- Resources: Access to advanced software and hardware and specialized tools to make projects viable.
- Follow-up: Biweekly meetings with a committee to monitor the progress of the work.
- Flexibility: Possibility of carrying out 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 experience or academic background in their fields can register. Teams of up to three members are also accepted, provided that a main responsible person is designated.
Selection criteria include innovation, potential impact, and alignment with the program's three areas of interest: Art, Cognition and Consciousness, and Paid Games.
Among the main highlights of the program terms:
- Each monthly scholarship will beR$ 10 thousandper selected project, regardless of the number of team members.
- The 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 of the future
With the residency program, CloudWalk reaffirms its commitment to not only transforming payments technology, but also pushing the frontier of knowledge in artificial intelligence and human-machine collaboration.
