Project summary

We are entering a world shaped by artificial intelligence, but most people still don’t understand how it works or why it makes the choices it does. Inquiro was created to change that.

Inquiro is a global media hub dedicated to helping people understand AI’s impact on our lives, values, and future. Through essays, interviews, and interactive tools, it connects ideas across technology, philosophy, and society.

At the heart of this platform is a new kind of AI built for journalists and writers. It doesn’t just generate text; it thinks alongside you, showing its reasoning step by step as it helps you explore ideas and develop stories. When you feel stuck, it offers fresh directions. The more you work with it, the smarter and more aligned with your style it becomes. It is a digital writing partner that grows with you.

Inquiro and Inquiro AI are independent, self-funded initiatives dedicated to making AI more transparent and deeply human in how it communicates. Your support helps sustain our ongoing research and reporting.

What are this project's goals? How will you achieve them?

Our Goals

·         Build Inquiro into a trusted platform for AI literacy and interdisciplinary discussion.

·         Develop Inquiro AI, an AI that reveals its reasoning process to promote transparency and understanding.

·         Publish accessible, research-based content exploring how AI influences culture, work, and ethics.

·         Foster a community where educators, journalists, and everyday readers can engage critically with AI.

How We Will Get There

·         Integrate Inquiro AI into the Inquiro platform as an interactive learning tool.

·         Publish weekly essays, case studies, and explainers showing how AI reasoning connects to real-world issues.

·         Run pilot sessions with educators and journalists to test how transparent reasoning can improve understanding.

·         Release open-source frameworks and reports so others can build on the work.

Our goal isn’t just to make AI smarter; it’s to make it understandable.

How will this funding be used?

Funding Use

Total request: $10,000 for six months of focused development and creation.

The requested funds will be distributed across the following key areas to ensure steady progress and meaningful outcomes:

Living Expenses ($6,000)

• To provide sustained time for full-time research, writing, and development throughout the six-month period.

MVP Development ($2,000)

• For model experimentation, hosting, and integration of AI components essential to building a functional prototype.

Legal and Infrastructure ($800)

• Covers platform setup, domain acquisition, and essential tools required for smooth operations.

User Testing and Outreach ($700)

• To conduct pilot sessions with educators, journalists, and early adopters—ensuring real-world feedback and refinement.

Contingency ($500)

• Reserved for unforeseen needs that may arise during the project’s lifecycle.

This isn’t startup funding; it’s support for a public experiment in making AI transparent, and human-centered.   

Who is on your team? What's your track record on similar projects?

Founder: Faisal Moarafur Rasul

I am a digital communications and marketing professional who has spent the last decade helping people understand complex ideas through storytelling and strategy. My work bridges technology, ethics, and human insight.

At present, I am the only person managing every part of the project, including research, writing, design, community engagement, and strategy. With funding, I plan to onboard or outsource both technical and non-technical roles to help accelerate progress. This support will cover areas such as development, UX design, content operations, and community moderation.

Highlights

·         12,000+ followers on LinkedIn engaging with my writing on AI and ethics

·         20+ published articles and features on AI, philosophy, and digital culture

·         1,000+ subscribers on Inquiro Substack

·         Recognized for translating technical concepts into accessible narratives that build understanding and trust

The Inquiro community will serve as the first testers, and later as critics, in shaping Inquiro AI.

What are the most likely causes and outcomes if this project fails?

Possible Challenges

·         Technical complexity: Developing transparent reasoning within generative AI systems is inherently challenging.

·         Resource constraints: Limited funding or staffing could slow progress on development or outreach.

·         Adoption: It may take time for audiences to engage deeply with explainable AI and understand its value.

If It Fails

Even if the prototype does not reach full functionality, the project will still deliver valuable outcomes. The process will generate open data, insights, and educational materials that others working on AI transparency can use. All findings will be shared publicly so that the lessons learned continue to benefit the field.

If It Succeeds

Success would mean more than just a functional prototype. We will have created a new way for people to learn about AI by directly engaging with how it reasons and makes decisions. This approach could inspire future educational and research initiatives focused on transparency and understanding in artificial intelligence.

How much money have you raised in the last 12 months, and from where?

Funding History

Funds raised: $0 (self-funded to date)

Support: None received yet. This proposal represents the first formal funding request for Inquiro and Inquiro AI.

The community has grown organically, with readers and discussions spanning continents and industries.

Why This Matters

Most AI systems today can answer questions, but they rarely show how they reach those answers. That lack of transparency creates a trust gap between technology and its users.

Inquiro and Inquiro AI aim to close that gap by promoting public education, and clear reasoning. Our goal is to help people not just use AI, but truly understand it.

This project also stands for global representation. Building it in Bangladesh proves that meaningful work in AI ethics and transparency can come from anywhere, not just major tech hubs.

If machines are going to shape our world, they should also explain their thinking.