DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman, who recently left his VP of AI product management and AI policy role at Google, also co-founded the machine learning start-up Inflection AI. Suleyman has already hired several of his former colleagues.
Bloomberg | Getty Images
Artificial intelligence gurus are quitting top jobs at companies like Google, Meta, OpenAI and DeepMind and joining a new breed of start-ups that want to take AI to the next level, according to people familiar with the matter and LinkedIn analysis.
Four of the best-funded new AI start-ups Inflection, Cohere, Adept and Anthropic have recently poached dozens of AI scientists with backgrounds in Big Tech.
Their hiring efforts are being fueled by venture capital firms and billionaires keen to cash in on any success they have. Collectively, these firms have raised over $1 billion and they're using these vast war chests to poach talented individuals who command high salaries from their previous employers.
The start-ups are building their products and services with a relatively new "architecture," which is a set of rules and methods that's used to describe the functionality, organization and implementation of a computer system.
The new architecture developed by a team of Google staff in 2017 and now available for anyone to use is known as a "transformer."
The transformer allows AI systems to be scaled in ways that had never been considered before, meaning it's possible to make them far more powerful and capable.
"When you started scaling up these models, the capabilities just grew in a way that I think no one predicted," Cohere CEO Aidan Gomez told CNBC. "It was like a total shock."
OpenAI's GPT-3 and Dalle-E, Google's Bert, and DeepMind's AlphaFold and AlphaStar are all examples of breakthrough AI systems that are underpinned by a transformer.
Launched in March, Inflection AI has already raised over $225 million despite having fewer than 10 employees, according to LinkedIn.
Headquartered in California, the company's aim is to develop AI software products that make it easier for humans to communicate with computers.
It is led by DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman, who recently left his VP of AI product management and AI policy role at Google. LinkedIn billionaire Reid Hoffman and former DeepMind researcher Karen Simonyan are the other co-founders.
Suleyman has already hired several of his former colleagues.
Former DeepMinder Heinrich Kuttler left his research engineering manager role at Meta AI in London in March to become a member of the founding team at Inflection, working on the technical side of the business, according to his LinkedIn page. Elsewhere, Joe Fenton left his senior product manager role at Google in February also to become a member of the founding team at Inflection, working on the product side of the business.
More recently, Rewon Child, a former Google Brain and OpenAI researcher, joined Inflection as a member of technical staff. Inflection has also hired Maarten Bosma, who was previously a research engineer at Google.
Meta and Google did not respond to a CNBC request for comment.
One of Inflection's best-known investors is Greylock Partners, a renowned venture capital firm in Silicon Valley that made early bets on the likes of Facebook (now Meta) and Airbnb. Hoffman and Suleyman are partners at the firm.
On a call with CNBC in March, Suleyman said: "If you think about the history of computing, we have always been trying to reduce the complexity of our ideas in order to communicate them to a machine."
He added: "Even when we write a search query, we're simplifying, we're reducing or we're writing in shorthand so that the search engine can understand what we want."
When humans want to control a computer, they need to learn a programming language in order to provide instructions, he added, or use a mouse to navigate and engage with things on the screen. "All of these are ways we simplify our ideas and reduce their complexity and in some ways their creativity and their uniqueness in order to get a machine to do something," Suleyman said.
The British entrepreneur claimed a new suite of technologies that Inflection will aim to develop will eventually enable anyone to speak to a computer in plain language. It's unclear at this stage who Inflection will sell its products to, at what price, and when.
Inflection is competing for talent with Cohere, which was founded in Toronto in 2019 by Aidan Gomez, Ivan Zhang and Nick Frosst.
Cohere, which has raised around $170 million from the likes of Index Ventures and Tiger Global, wants to create an interface that allows software developers to use complicated AI technology on their apps.
This AI technology, known as natural language processing, or NLP, should allow developers to deploy new features and services into their software products.
"We want to build that toolkit that's accessible to any dev," CEO Gomez told CNBC on a call.
AI luminaries and DeepMind alums Ed Grefenstette and Phil Blunsom are among the latest AI scientists to join Cohere, with the duo announcing last month that they've joined the firm.
Grefenstette is Cohere's head of machine learning and Blunsom is the company's chief scientist.
They'll also be responsible for helping to set up a new Cohere office in London, which has become a hotbed for AI talent over the last decade. Indeed, DeepMind now employs over a thousand people in the city, many of them PhDs.
They'll likely be able to scout out promising potential recruits from two of the U.K.'s leading universities. Grefenstette is an honorary professor at UCL, while Blunsom is a professor at Oxford.
Another firm making waves is Anthropic, which is led by OpenAI's former VP of research Dario Amodei.
Anthropic describes itself as an AI safety and research company. It says that it wants to build "reliable interpretable, and steerable AI systems."
Amodei set up the firm with help from several other ex-OpenAI employees, including Jack Clark, Tom Brown, Sam McCandlish and his sister Daniela Amodei.
It launched in 2021 and announced it had secured $124 million from a cohort of investors including Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
In April, the company announced it raised another $580 million, and according to LinkedIn, it now has 41 staff.
Another AI start-up that's been built by some heavy hitters in the field of machine learning is Adept AI Labs.
The co-founders include CEO David Luan (previously a director at Google Research and VP of engineering at OpenAI), Niki Parmar (formerly a staff research scientist at Google Brain) and Ashish Vaswani (also a staff research scientist at Google Brain).
The San Francisco-based company, which is just a few months old and has raised $65 million, is on a mission to build general intelligence that enables humans to work together creatively.
It wants to create a sort of AI assistant that workers can collaborate with to solve almost anything together. While this tool will initially be productivity-focused, the firm hopes that everyone will be able to use its AI technology in the medium term.
See the article here:
A.I. gurus are leaving Big Tech to work on buzzy new start-ups - CNBC
- 2023 Boosts Big Techs AI monopoly? Google, Microsoft, Nvidia, and others wield money power - HT Tech - January 2nd, 2024 [January 2nd, 2024]
- Alphabet (GOOGL) and Meta Shows Power of Ads Over Subscriptions - Bloomberg - January 2nd, 2024 [January 2nd, 2024]
- Looking Beyond The 'Magnificent 7' Analysts Just Upgraded These Three Large-Cap Stocks - Anheuser-Busch - Benzinga - January 2nd, 2024 [January 2nd, 2024]
- Mapping the Biggest Tech Talent Hubs in the U.S. and Canada - Visual Capitalist - January 2nd, 2024 [January 2nd, 2024]
- Google, Meta, other tech giants slash DEI-related jobs, resource groups in 2023: Report - Fox Business - January 2nd, 2024 [January 2nd, 2024]
- South Koreas proposed tech regulations would be a gift to China - The Hill - January 2nd, 2024 [January 2nd, 2024]
- Outlook 2024: Big changes to expect in personal tech - The Indian Express - January 2nd, 2024 [January 2nd, 2024]
- Big Tech Dumped $17 Billion Into AI Companies in 2023 Despite Frozen Market - The Messenger - January 2nd, 2024 [January 2nd, 2024]
- Why OpenAI signals the start of the post-Christensen startup world - Tech.eu - January 2nd, 2024 [January 2nd, 2024]
- Opinion | Lindsey Graham and Elizabeth Warren: When It Comes to Big Tech, Enough Is Enough - The New York Times - July 29th, 2023 [July 29th, 2023]
- Globe editorial: Canada can't tackle Big Tech on its own - The Globe and Mail - July 29th, 2023 [July 29th, 2023]
- July jobs report and more Big Tech earnings are in the week ahead after markets notch historic run for Dow - CNBC - July 29th, 2023 [July 29th, 2023]
- A Setback in the F.T.C.'s Fight Against Big Tech - The New Yorker - July 29th, 2023 [July 29th, 2023]
- Be strong in the fight against Big Tech, Canada - Canada's National Observer - July 29th, 2023 [July 29th, 2023]
- Decoding volatility: Are big tech stocks as stable as we think? - CryptoSlate - July 29th, 2023 [July 29th, 2023]
- Patients think their health data will be leaked and don't trust big tech ... - Contemporary Pediatrics - July 29th, 2023 [July 29th, 2023]
- The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Big Tech Earnings Season - Fagen wasanni - July 29th, 2023 [July 29th, 2023]
- The problem with Big Tech's voluntary AI safety commitments - Emerging Tech Brew - July 29th, 2023 [July 29th, 2023]
- How the Crypto Market Prepares Ahead of Big Tech Earnings ... - BeInCrypto - July 29th, 2023 [July 29th, 2023]
- Tony Anscombe: It's Misleading to Ask if Big Tech Wants to Read ... - BroadbandBreakfast.com - July 29th, 2023 [July 29th, 2023]
- The Week Ahead: Fed, ECB and BoJ set rates, and Big Tech ... - Financial Times - July 29th, 2023 [July 29th, 2023]
- China's Big Tech making a comeback with Beijing offering fresh ... - The Straits Times - July 29th, 2023 [July 29th, 2023]
- Montgomery County school district sues Big Tech over youth mental ... - Washington Times - June 18th, 2023 [June 18th, 2023]
- Big Tech knows most Brits don't know how to protect their online ... - TechRadar - June 18th, 2023 [June 18th, 2023]
- The time for talk is over is time for action on data privacy - The Hill - June 18th, 2023 [June 18th, 2023]
- Meet the man calling out Big Techs climate hypocrisy - Corporate Knights Magazine - June 18th, 2023 [June 18th, 2023]
- Letter: UK watchdog's tough stance on Big Tech should reassure MPs - Financial Times - June 18th, 2023 [June 18th, 2023]
- Peter Thiel on Big Tech: A Throwback Lecture - Walter Bradley Center for Natural and Artificial Intelligence - June 18th, 2023 [June 18th, 2023]
- Big Tech Is Big Tobacco - The Lever - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Graham fires warning shot at Big Tech: Were going to unleash the courtrooms of America on you - Fox News - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Experts weigh the current cost of anticompetitive behavior in Big ... - NYU Law - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Big Tech lobbying on AI regulation as industry races to harness ... - Center for Responsive Politics - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- 'Big Tech is knowingly fueling a mental-health crisis in this country ... - Morningstar - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- EY's Abandoned Split Exposes Obstacles to Big Tech Consulting - Bloomberg Tax - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Apple CEO Tim Cook calls mass layoffs a last resort, as the company avoids the giant job cuts of its Big Tech peers - Yahoo Finance - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Big Tech stocks are flying! Which ones are the best buys today? - Motley Fool UK - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Why Indian start-ups have accused the Internet and Mobile Association of India of spreading Big Tech propaganda - The Indian Express - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Intimate Images Protection Update Big Tech Warned To Be Ready ... - BC INJURY LAW - May 6th, 2023 [May 6th, 2023]
- Apple Stock and Big Tech Are Winners. Why Cathie Wood's ARK Is Still a Loser. - Barron's - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- White House officials will meet Big Tech CEOs as President Biden looks to tackle AI safety concerns - Yahoo Canada Finance - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- The top 10 buzziest companies Gen Z wants to work fornone of them are in Big Tech, says new report - CNBC - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- Apple Reports Earnings Today. What to Expect. - Barron's - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- Big Tech Earnings: Time to Take Another Bite of Apple? - Yahoo Finance - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- Vibe Check: Big Tech Is Losing Its 'Luster' For The Class Of 2023 Amid Mounting Layoffs And An Uncertain Economy - Forbes - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- Lindsey Graham says Big Tech will kill online child safety bill, teases plan with Elizabeth Warren - Washington Times - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- 'Break them open' new EU rules coming for Big Tech - TNW - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- EY's Abandoned Split Exposes Obstacles to Big Tech Consulting - Bloomberg Law - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- Open Source Communities Need More Than Funding From Big Tech - DevOps.com - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- Night School, Class 3: Big Tech vs the insurgents - Financial Times - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- MM View: The Big Tech monster is coming for you - but only if you let it - Money Marketing - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- Big Tech has eviscerated America's patent system The Gilmer Mirror - Gilmer Mirror - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- We need regulators with teeth to fight Big Tech monopolism - The Spectator Australia - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- IAMAI showdown: Start-ups explore other lobby groups to fight Big Tech dominance - Moneycontrol - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- Snap and Amazon Q1 Shows Big Tech's Advertising Advantage - The Information - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- How big tech is undermining women's reproductive rights in ... - San Francisco Chronicle - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- Opinion: Failure to regulate artificial intelligence will entrench Big ... - The Globe and Mail - May 4th, 2023 [May 4th, 2023]
- Tech layoffs: Yes, there's a better way to fire people. Is Big Tech doing it? No way. - Yahoo Finance - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- As Big Tech cuts workers, other industries are desperate to hire them - February 18th, 2023 [February 18th, 2023]
- Worlds 22 Biggest Tech Companies of 2023 - UserGuiding - February 18th, 2023 [February 18th, 2023]
- Big techs supersized ambitions | The Economist - February 18th, 2023 [February 18th, 2023]
- House Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan subpoenas big tech CEOs over user speech - CBS News - February 18th, 2023 [February 18th, 2023]
- At Tesla and Other Big Tech Firms, Its Not the Machines But the Assumptions Behind Them Causing Problems - Forbes - February 18th, 2023 [February 18th, 2023]
- Big Tech earnings face more heat as cloud cover fades | Reuters - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Big Tech earnings face more heat as cloud cover fades - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Big Tech on defense: Apple, Amazon and Google report earnings - CNN - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Californias new gold rush: Big tech moves to gain the edge in AI - The Indian Express - February 5th, 2023 [February 5th, 2023]
- Big (1988) - IMDb - January 25th, 2023 [January 25th, 2023]
- Big (film) - Wikipedia - January 25th, 2023 [January 25th, 2023]
- Dow books third straight day of gains, but Nasdaq and S&P 500 end lower as investors await big tech earnings - MarketWatch - January 25th, 2023 [January 25th, 2023]
- Google Layoffs: Big Tech Continues Downsizing - forbes.com - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- Here Comes More Censorship: Rachel Levine Pressuring Big Tech to Shut ... - December 28th, 2022 [December 28th, 2022]
- Preserve local journalism by holding Big Tech accountable - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Fauci testimony 'confirms' Big Tech collusion to censor free speech on ... - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- How big tech defeated the biggest antitrust push in decades on Capitol Hill - Los Angeles Times - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- J6 Witch Hunt Is What Happens When Big Tech And Feds Team Up - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Big Tech, Big Fines | ZeroHedge - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Court: Psaki Must Testify Over White House's Big Tech Collusion - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Big Tech shows off its AI | Financial Times - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Big Tech and governments are fighting the fake reviews industry. India is gearing up too. - Economic Times - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- VOTE: Do you trust Big Tech platforms to treat all points of view fairly? - ABC6OnYourSide.com - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]