AI Pioneer Eric Zelikman Seeks $1 Billion for Humans& Startup

Eric Zelikman, a prominent figure in artificial intelligence research, is in the process of raising $1 billion for his new startup, Humans&, which aims to develop AI models with emotional intelligence. This funding initiative, which is pegged at a valuation of $4 billion, comes at a time when the AI sector is witnessing a surge in early-stage investments.

The funding round is currently ongoing, and while the terms may evolve, it reflects a growing trend where venture capitalists are investing heavily in startups led by distinguished researchers. For instance, earlier this year, Thinking Machines Labs, founded by former OpenAI CTO Mira Murati, raised $2 billion in a seed round, achieving a valuation of $12 billion.

Zelikman, who previously worked with xAI and holds a Ph.D. in computer science from Stanford University, is recognized for his innovative approach to AI. He is particularly noted for a significant paper published last year that explored how language models can autonomously learn to think before generating responses. His career also includes experience as a machine learning intern at Microsoft and as a deep learning engineer at Lazard.

In an interview on a podcast hosted by venture capitalist Sarah Guo, Zelikman expressed his belief that current language models lack warmth and an understanding of long-term implications. He stated, “The most fundamental thing is that the models kind of don’t understand the long-term implications of the things that they do and say.” He emphasized that many researchers focus on irrelevant aspects of AI development, leading to underutilization of available talent.

Zelikman envisions that Humans& will prioritize the development of models that can empathize with users. “The actual objective of the model needs to be to kind of understand you,” he remarked, acknowledging that while no model will achieve perfection, they can significantly outperform existing ones. His goal is to create AI solutions that can effectively collaborate with diverse groups of people and address complex human issues, such as healthcare challenges.

He further asserted, “We’re much more likely to solve a lot of these fundamental human problems by building models that are really good at collaborating with large groups of people.” Zelikman’s vision for Humans& is one where AI is not just functional but also aligns closely with human values and aspirations.

As this funding round progresses, the outcome could set a significant precedent for future investments in AI, particularly in ventures that emphasize emotional intelligence and user-centric models.