Summary:
CuspAI is a UK startup focused on using AI for material discovery to combat climate change.
Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun, both AI pioneers, have joined CuspAI's advisory board.
The startup aims to create AI foundation models for chemistry, allowing researchers to input material properties in plain English.
CuspAI has partnered with Meta's FAIR and is working on carbon capture technologies.
The company raised $30 million in seed funding to support its innovative mission.
CuspAI's Ambitious Mission
CuspAI, a U.K. startup based in Cambridge, is on a quest to leverage AI technology to discover innovative chemicals and materials aimed at tackling climate change. Recently, the company has made headlines by recruiting two renowned AI pioneers, Geoffrey Hinton and Yann LeCun, to its advisory board.
Who Are the AI 'Godfathers'?
- Geoffrey Hinton: A former Google AI researcher and co-recipient of the Nobel Prize in Physics, Hinton is a key figure in the development of artificial neural networks.
- Yann LeCun: Serving as the chief AI scientist at Meta, LeCun is another heavyweight in AI, known for his foundational contributions to the field.
Both scientists are excited to support CuspAI’s mission to find materials that can enhance environmental sustainability, including advancements in carbon capture, water purification, and the development of energy-efficient technologies.
Expanding the Team
In addition to these luminaries, CuspAI has brought on board Kristin Persson, a materials science researcher from the University of California, Berkeley, and Verity Harding, a former Google DeepMind public policy head. This strategic hiring strategy has allowed CuspAI to amass a formidable team of experts.
Innovative Vision for Material Discovery
CuspAI aims to create AI foundation models that function similarly to today’s large language models but are tailored for chemistry. The ultimate goal? To enable researchers to input desired material properties in plain English and receive a chemical recipe in return.
Progress and Collaborations
Currently, the startup employs a combination of models to optimize potential materials and is in partnership with Meta’s Fundamental AI Research (FAIR) on a project focused on carbon dioxide capture. They are also prototyping novel materials with a specialty chemicals company.
A Sustainable Business Model
CuspAI's business model revolves around partnering with commercial entities to produce and test AI-generated compounds, retaining a share of the intellectual property rights for future revenue through licensing and royalties.
Funding and Growth
The company is rapidly expanding its footprint with offices in Cambridge, Edinburgh, Amsterdam, and Berlin. In June, CuspAI successfully raised $30 million in seed funding, aiming to further its innovative efforts in material discovery.
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