Generative AI companies, such as OpenAI, are positioning themselves as potential future funders of global research through the creation of "philanthropic" foundations and by offering "project-based funding." This approach allows them to attract researchers who need financial support to sustain their work, even though these companies currently do not make profits. Public funding for research is under threat in several countries, including France and the United States, which has made the role of private entities in funding science more prominent. These AI firms are stepping in with money they do not yet possess, drawing attention and support from researchers in need. Many digital companies have long used "philanthropy" as a strategy, often through foundations like the Gates Foundation, created by Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates. The foundation's 2025 budget reached 91 million dollars, and it has historically supported research and health initiatives. Similarly, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, founded by Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, has also engaged in funding various causes, though it faced criticism for shifting its focus last year. Researchers Linsey McGoey, Darren Thiel, and Robin West have studied this phenomenon known as "philanthrocapitalism." In a 2018 article, they noted that this form of philanthropy often involves granting tax benefits to businesses through "philanthropic" funding. They also observed that philanthrocapitalist organizations increasingly direct their donations toward for-profit companies, with the Gates Foundation being a notable example. The foundation began allocating a growing share of its grants to companies like Vodafone, Mastercard, and Scholastic. Following this model, generative AI startups are also investing in research through project-based funding. The OpenAI foundation, established in October 2025, recently announced in the scientific journal Nature that it has committed 125 million dollars to projects focused on creating freely accessible data for health and life sciences research. This includes work on cancer vaccines, Alzheimer's disease, and the reuse of data from biotechnology companies in bankruptcy. Anthropic, another AI startup, has also announced project-based funding for scientific research on rare diseases. Its president, Daniela Amodei, has emphasized the importance of global health, stating that Anthropic collaborates with humanitarian organizations in Africa to use its AI model, Claude, in healthcare and to predict famines. However, the sustainability of these initiatives is uncertain. Anthropic's funding is provided in the form of credits for using Claude, not in cash, while the OpenAI foundation relies on the company's future initial public offering (IPO). OpenAI has not yet turned a profit but aims for a valuation of around 1,400 billion dollars. With a 26% stake in OpenAI, its foundation envisions managing a 25 billion dollar fund, which would make it one of the wealthiest non-profit organizations in the world. Despite these ambitious goals, the success of these projects remains dependent on the uncertain financial future of the company.