Google DeepMind scientists agree on a new AI startup and $220 million in funding
Two scientists from Google DeepMind are in talks to create an artificial intelligence startup in Paris, reports Bloomberg with reference to informed sources.
Negotiations with potential investors concern a funding round that could exceed 200 million euros ($220 million). This amount is called large even for a field like AI.
DeepMind scientist Laurent Sifre and his colleague Carl Tiles, who have allegedly already submitted their resignations, are talking about launching a startup called Holistic. The project may focus on creating a new AI model.
Both are considered to be renowned experts in their field, and the unusually large round of funding being discussed is further evidence of strong investor interest in the technology.
By the way, last year DeepMind introduced the newest version of AlphaFold, an AI-powered program. It is capable of generating predictions for almost all molecules in the world’s largest database of biological molecules, the Protein Data Bank. Isomorphic Labs (a subsidiary of DeepMind) uses the model to develop therapeutic drugs.