Funding, Scope, Risks, And Refunds​

​

Thank you for choosing to support this important project.

​

From its inception, AI On Human Terms 2026 has been intended to give people a stronger voice in the AI conversation and create independent, public research about what people actually want from AI, what gives them pause, and what would make AI genuinely useful, trustworthy, and worth using.

Because crowdfunding is inherently uncertain, we cannot know in advance how much funding the project will receive, how quickly funding will be received, or exactly which combination of research activities and public deliverables will ultimately be feasible.

​

Our commitment is to use the funds responsibly and to complete the strongest version of the project that the available net funding reasonably supports.

​

The information below explains how funding levels may affect the project’s scope, how contributions may be used, what changes may become necessary, and when refunds may or may not be available. We greatly appreciate your support and want these expectations to be as clear as possible from the beginning.

​

Nature Of Your Contribution

Your contribution supports the research, development, and public delivery of AI On Human Terms 2026.

Supporting this project is not the same as purchasing a completed product. Research and crowdfunding projects involve uncertainty, and the final scope, timing, methods, and deliverables may change as the work develops.

​

Unless expressly stated otherwise, contributions:

• Are Not Investments Or Loans.

• Do Not Provide Equity, Ownership, Profit Participation, Or Financial Returns.

• Are Not Charitable Donations And Should Not Be Assumed To Be Tax-Deductible.

• Do Not Guarantee A Particular Research Finding, Conclusion, Product, Deliverable, Or Outcome.

 

Flexible Funding And Scaled Deliverables

This project may proceed even if it receives less than its full funding goal.

The amount raised will determine the scale of the research and the number, depth, and format of the final deliverables.

​

If the project receives less than 100% of its funding goal, the project team may reduce, delay, replace, or modify elements such as:

​

• Survey Sample Size Or Audience Coverage.

• Number Of Research Questions Or Analytical Modules.

• Depth Of Segmentation And Subgroup Analysis.

• Number Or Format Of Reports, Infographics, Videos, Articles, Or Presentations.

• Development Of Interactive Tools, Dashboards, Assessments, Or Typing Tools.

• Qualitative Interviews, Social Listening, Or International Expansion.

• Project Timing, Staffing, Design, Distribution, Or Promotional Activities.

​

Before contributions open, the campaign page is expected to identify the principal funding levels and the deliverables planned at each level.

​

A contribution supports the project at the funding level ultimately achieved. Falling short of the full funding goal, reducing the project’s scope, or modifying individual deliverables does not automatically create a right to a refund.

​

​

Below Minimum Viable Funding

If the project receives less than the net funding reasonably required to complete even the reduced-scope version of the project, the project team may determine that the project is not financially viable and may suspend, defer, cancel, or wind down the project.

​

In that event, project funds may first be applied to or retained for documented project expenses, nonrecoverable costs, commitments already made, reasonable compensation for work already performed, and reasonable project wind-down costs.

​

Any remaining funds will be handled in accordance with the Refund Policy and If The Project Cannot Continue sections below.

​

Reduced-Scope Funding: 50% Of Goal Met, Or $35,000

At this level, the team may complete only a limited version of the project. This may include a smaller sample size, a focused analysis, or a concise public summary of findings. The full research report, complete sample, infographic and video series, and all originally planned deliverables may not be produced.

​​​​

Core Funding: Approximately 75% Of Goal Met, Or $55,000

At this level, the principal research study and core public report may proceed.

Selected tools, supplemental analyses, design elements, videos, dashboards, or other lower-priority deliverables may still be reduced, delayed, replaced, or removed.

 

Full Funding At Or Above 100%

At this level, the team expects to pursue the full baseline and stretch-goal scope described on the campaign page, subject to normal research, operational, legal, financial, technical, and logistical risks.

Reaching the full funding goal does not guarantee that every deliverable will be completed exactly as initially presented. Reasonable changes may still be necessary as the project develops.

​

Project Changes And Delays

Research projects may be affected by factors that cannot be fully predicted in advance.

These may include:

• Participant Availability.

• Data-Quality Issues.

• Vendor Performance.

• Technology Changes.

• Software Or Platform Limitations.

• Changes In Costs.

• Legal Or Regulatory Requirements.

• Privacy Or Data-Protection Requirements.

• Staffing Or Contractor Availability.

• Illness Or Personal Emergencies.

• Events Outside The Team’s Reasonable Control.

 

The project team may make good-faith changes to:

• Research Methods.

• Sample Design.

• Survey Questions.

• Analysis Plans.

• Vendors Or Technology.

• Deliverable Formats.

• Publication Dates.

• Reward Details.

• Staffing Or Contractor Assignments.

• The Order In Which Work Is Completed.

​​

Any dates shown on the website or campaign page should be understood as good-faith estimates rather than guarantees.​ Material changes will be communicated to supporters when reasonably practical.

 

Refund Policy

Once a contribution has been processed and the project has begun incurring costs, making commitments, or performing work, contributions are generally final and nonrefundable.

 

Contributions made at the $3 and $10 support tiers are final and nonrefundable once processed, except when a refund is required by applicable law, the crowdfunding platform, or the payment provider. These tiers are intended as low-dollar contributions in support of the project and will not be included in voluntary full, partial, or proportional refunds if the project proceeds at a reduced scope, is delayed, is modified, or is determined not to be financially viable.

 

Refunds may be provided only:

• When Required By Applicable Law.

• When Required By The Crowdfunding Platform Or Payment Provider.

• When The Project Team Voluntarily Determines That A Refund Is Appropriate.

• When A Specific Reward Cannot Be Delivered And A Refund Or Alternative Is Required Under Applicable Law Or Platform Rules.

​

The following circumstances do not automatically create a right to a refund:

• The Project Does Not Reach Its Full Funding Goal.

• The Project Does Not Receive Enough Funding To Remain Financially Viable.

• The Project Proceeds At A Reduced Scope.

• A Deliverable Is Modified, Replaced, Delayed, Or Removed.

• A Stretch Goal Is Not Reached Or Completed.

• The Research Methodology Changes.

• The Sample Size Or Audience Coverage Is Reduced.

• The Project Timeline Changes.

• The Final Findings Differ From What A Supporter Expected.

• The Research Does Not Support A Particular Viewpoint Or Conclusion.

 

If The Project Cannot Continue

If the project team determines that insufficient net funding or another material circumstance makes the project financially or operationally unviable, supporters will be informed when reasonably practical.

Before determining whether funds remain available for refunds or another resolution, the project team may account for all project costs, commitments, and work already performed.

​

The team will review whether any uncommitted funds remain after accounting for amounts already:

• Spent On The Project.

• Paid To Participants, Vendors, Contractors, Advisors, Platforms, Or Team Members.

• Committed Under Noncancelable Or Nonrefundable Agreements.

• Owed For Taxes, Fees, Rewards, Chargebacks, Administration, Legal Work, Or Compliance.

• Required To Close The Project And Meet Outstanding Obligations.

• Reasonably Reserved For Project Wind-Down, Communication, Recordkeeping, Or Reporting.

• Used For Reasonable, Documented Compensation For Work Already Performed By The Project Team, Including Project Planning, Research Design, Campaign Preparation, Administration, Vendor Coordination, Communications, Analysis Preparation, And Project Wind-Down.

​

These amounts will be treated as incurred or earned project costs and will not become refundable solely because the project does not receive enough funding to proceed or because the final scope is reduced, delayed, modified, or discontinued.

​

If funds remain after those obligations are satisfied, the project team may, where practical and legally permitted, consider the following options for eligible contribution tiers.

Contributions made at the $3 and $10 support tiers will not be included in any voluntary refund calculation, except when otherwise required by applicable law, the crowdfunding platform, or the payment provider.

​

The project team may:

• Provide Partial Refunds On A Proportional Basis.

• Produce A Smaller Public Deliverable Consistent With The Project’s Mission.

• Complete And Publish Work Already Underway.

• Use The Remaining Funds For A Related Public Research Or Educational Output.

• Apply Another Reasonable Resolution Consistent With The Project’s Purpose And Applicable Requirements.

​

Because project expenses, compensation for work performed, and prior commitments may consume some or all of the funds received, no full or partial refund can be guaranteed.

​

Any refund that is offered may be reduced by:

• Crowdfunding Platform Fees.

• Payment-Processing Charges.

• Taxes.

• Banking Or Currency Fees.

• Chargebacks.

• Nonrecoverable Project Expenses.

• Prior Project Commitments.

• Reasonable, Documented Compensation For Work Already Performed.

• Administrative And Wind-Down Costs.

• Other Amounts That Cannot Reasonably Be Recovered.

​

Data Access And Privacy

Any access to research data will be subject to participant consent, privacy requirements, data-protection standards, contractual restrictions, and any applicable data-use agreement. Raw or personally identifiable participant information will not be provided to supporters.

 

Any dataset made available may be:

• Anonymized.

• Aggregated.

• Limited In Scope.

• Modified To Protect Participant Privacy.

• Subject To Licensing Or Usage Restrictions.

• Withheld If Release Would Create Legal, Ethical, Privacy, Or Research-Integrity Concerns.

 

The project team may determine that certain data cannot be shared publicly even if data access was initially contemplated.

 

No Guarantee Of Specific Research Conclusions

Contributions fund the research process, not a predetermined conclusion. The project team cannot guarantee that the findings will support any particular position about AI, trust, adoption, workplace effects, public sentiment, economic effects, or human impact.

​

The findings will be reported as accurately and independently as reasonably possible, including findings that differ from the team’s original expectations or from the views of individual supporters. No contributor, sponsor, partner, or funder will be entitled to control, suppress, revise, or predetermine the project’s findings.

​

Intellectual Property And Public Use

Unless otherwise stated, the project team will retain ownership of the project’s research design, analysis, written materials, visual materials, tools, methods, branding, and other intellectual property.

Certain final deliverables may be made publicly available for personal, educational, or noncommercial use.

Public availability does not automatically transfer ownership or grant unrestricted rights to reproduce, sell, modify, distribute, sublicense, or commercially exploit the materials.

Any separate licensing terms will be stated when the final deliverables are released.

​

No Professional Advice

The project and its deliverables are intended for general research, educational, and informational purposes.

They should not be treated as legal, financial, medical, employment, investment, cybersecurity, privacy, or other professional advice.

 

Individuals and organizations remain responsible for evaluating their own circumstances and obtaining appropriate professional guidance when needed.

​

Platform Terms And Applicable Law

Contributions may also be governed by the terms, refund rules, payment procedures, and dispute processes of the crowdfunding platform or payment provider used to process them.

If this policy conflicts with applicable law or a binding platform requirement, the applicable law or platform requirement will control.

 

The project team may update this policy before or during the campaign when reasonably necessary to reflect platform requirements, legal guidance, project changes, or new information.

Any material updates will be dated and communicated when reasonably practical.

​

Supporter Responsibility

By contributing, you acknowledge that:

​

• You Have Reviewed The Project Description And This Policy.

• You Understand That Crowdfunding And Research Projects Involve Risk And Uncertainty.

• You Understand That The Final Scope Will Depend On Net Funding, Actual Costs, And Feasibility.

• You Understand That Deliverables, Methods, Benefits, And Timelines May Change.

• You Understand That Your Contribution Is Generally Nonrefundable Once Processed.

• You Understand That A Reduced Project Scope Does Not Automatically Create A Right To A Refund.

• You Understand That Contributions Made At The $3 And $10 Support Tiers Are Nonrefundable Except When A Refund Is Required By Applicable Law, The Crowdfunding Platform, Or The Payment Provider.

• You Understand That If The Project Does Not Receive Enough Funding To Remain Viable, Funds May Be Used Or Retained For Documented Expenses, Nonrecoverable Commitments, Reasonable Compensation For Work Already Performed, And Project Wind-Down Costs Before Any Remaining Funds Are Considered For Refunds Or Other Uses.

• You Are Supporting A Good-Faith Effort To Complete The Strongest Feasible Version Of The Project.

• You Are Contributing Voluntarily And Have Not Relied On Any Guarantee Not Expressly Stated In Writing.

​

Questions

Please submit questions about funding, deliverables, rewards, or this policy to the form below.

Last Updated: July 1st, 2026​​​​