Former facebook engineer launches database to document real-world AI successes and failures

Amid growing public skepticism regarding artificial intelligence, a new initiative aims to provide a grounded view of the technology's impact. A poll from the University of Massachusetts Amherst revealed that only one in nine Americans supports the construction of AI data centers in their local communities. Furthermore, a Pew Research Center survey indicated that 67% of Americans lack confidence in the federal government's capacity to regulate AI effectively, while a Talker Research survey noted that 54% of Americans are fatigued by the constant discussion surrounding AI. Dave Goldblatt, a product engineer at Mission Control AI and former Facebook employee, has created Because of AI to counter this narrative. This independent, unfunded research database catalogs documented instances where AI has yielded measurable benefits across sectors such as medicine, education, transportation, and accessibility. The site evaluates each case based on evidence strength, direct attribution to AI, and timing of the impact. Crucially, the database also tracks instances where AI has failed to meet expectations. Goldblatt developed the project after a query in a subscriber chat for The Exponential View, a newsletter by Azeem Azhar. Since its launch on October 23, Because of AI has operated largely autonomously, with AI tools continuously updating its records. Goldblatt reports that the site currently draws between 200 and 300 daily visitors.