CloudWalk Launches AI Residency Program

São Paulo, December 2024 – CloudWalk, the global financial technology company behind the InfinitePay and Jim.com brands, has launched the first edition of its artistic and research residency in artificial intelligence. The program will offer monthly stipends of R$10,000 to three selected participants. Applications can be submitted here.

Described as "brainfunk, psychedelic, and anthropophagic," the initiative will select up to three collaborative human-machine proposals that align with its research themes: Art, Cognition and Consciousness, and Payment Games. The program’s goal is to reaffirm the fintech’s commitment to exploring the boundaries of technology, creativity, and innovation.

Inspired by the pursuit of an "artificial El Dorado," CloudWalk invites Brazilian researchers from any field to submit projects that chart new paths in artificial intelligence. According to the program’s official website, the aim is to "crack open the AI ‘black box,’ explore alternative pathways in the latent space of AI models, and test the limits of alignment."

The residency, aimed at researchers based in Brazil, seeks projects with the potential to be truly "brainfu*k"—disruptive ideas that challenge the status quo.

"At CloudWalk, our journey with AI goes beyond conventional applications in the payments sector, such as fraud detection, credit analysis, and customer support," says Pedro Terra, CloudWalk’s Director of AI. "Our focus extends to the post-AGI horizon, exploring less obvious territories like consciousness and artificial life. I believe that the convergence of art, intelligence, consciousness, and life will help us better understand the unfiltered and schizophrenic nature of the latent space in language models—a reality that will soon become ubiquitous. This imminent future demands deep, multifaceted analysis. Art, alongside science, serves as a tool to explore these new frontiers. To navigate what lies ahead, we must embrace diverse perspectives and strategies for understanding."

Program Structure

To participate, candidates must submit their proposals by January 31, 2025, with no restrictions on format. The fintech promises to evaluate each idea, prioritizing projects that demonstrate creativity and execution potential.

The residency will run for three months, starting in March 2025 and concluding in June 2025. During this period, selected participants will develop, refine, or complete their projects with CloudWalk’s support. In addition to the R$10,000 monthly stipend, the program offers:

• Resources: Access to advanced software, hardware, and specialized tools to support project execution.
• Guidance: Biweekly meetings with a committee to track project progress.
• Flexibility: The option to conduct research remotely or at CloudWalk’s São Paulo headquarters, with access to collaborative spaces and the company’s tech team.

At the program’s conclusion, participants will present their results at an event hosted by CloudWalk, attended by experts and special guests.

Eligibility Criteria

The residency is open to Brazilian researchers aged 18 and older, with proven experience or academic background in their fields. Teams of up to three members are also eligible, provided one principal lead is designated.

Selection criteria include innovation, potential impact, and alignment with the program’s three research areas: Art, Cognition and Consciousness, and Payment Games.

Key terms of the program include:

• The R$10,000 monthly stipend is awarded per selected project, regardless of team size.
• Intellectual property will be shared between CloudWalk and the researchers, allowing both parties to use and further develop the outcomes independently.
• Researchers may submit up to two proposals, but only one will be selected per applicant or team.

Vision for the Future

Through the residency program, CloudWalk reinforces its commitment to not only transforming payment technology but also pushing the boundaries of knowledge in artificial intelligence and collaborative human-machine projects.

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