DeepMind’s David Silver just raised $1.1B to build an AI that learns without human data

DeepMind's former reinforcement learning lead, David Silver, has launched a new British AI lab called Ineffable Intelligence, which has secured $1.1 billion in funding at a $5.1 billion valuation. The company's stated goal is to develop a "superlearner" AI capable of discovering knowledge and skills without relying on human-generated data. This approach leverages reinforcement learning, Silver's area of expertise, where AI systems learn through trial and error.

Ineffable Intelligence's ambition is explicitly stated on its website, claiming its "law will explain and build all Intelligence," a comparison made to Darwin's theory of evolution. Silver, a professor at University College London, previously led DeepMind's reinforcement learning team for over a decade, where he was instrumental in creating AI programs like AlphaZero that defeated professional players in games such as chess and Go by learning purely from experience. He has also committed to donating any personal earnings from Ineffable to high-impact charities.

The significant funding round was led by Sequoia Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners, with additional participation from Index Ventures, Google, Nvidia, the British Business Bank, and the UK's sovereign AI venture fund, Sovereign AI. Achieving "pentacorn status" (over $5 billion valuation) shortly after its founding, Ineffable Intelligence exemplifies a trend of AI ventures founded by prominent researchers attracting substantial initial investments, often termed "coconut rounds." This phenomenon is also seen with AMI Labs, co-founded by Yann LeCun, which raised $1.03 billion, and Recursive Superintelligence, co-founded by Tim Rocktäschel, which reportedly raised $500 million, with demand for up to $1 billion.

These developments highlight London's growing prominence as an AI hub, partly due to DeepMind's continued presence post-Google acquisition and the resulting network of alumni. Several former DeepMind staffers are reportedly joining Ineffable's executive team. The article also notes that Jeff Bezos's AI lab, Project Prometheus, is reportedly seeking office space near Google's AI hub in London, further solidifying the region's increasing AI ecosystem. The primary source for this information is TechCrunch, a reputable technology news publication, with additional details cited from Wired and the companies' own websites.