New York: Scientists at Google DeepMind are reportedly leaving Alphabet Inc.’s AI division to launch a new AI startup named Holistic in Paris. According to media report, Laurent Sifre and Karl Tuyls are in discussions with potential investors for a funding round exceeding €200 million.
The startup is expected to focus on developing a new AI model, but both scientists and DeepMind declined to comment on the reported plans. Sifre and Tuyls, renowned for their work in AI, have submitted their resignations and are serving notice periods.
Sifre was a co-author of the groundbreaking 2016 DeepMind research on Go, while Tuyls specializes in game theory and multi-agent reinforcement learning. The reported massive funding round reflects strong investor interest in their expertise.
France’s venture capital scene, particularly in Paris, has shown significant interest in AI startups emerging from local universities and Silicon Valley hubs. Mistral AI, an OpenAI rival led by a former DeepMind executive, reached a valuation of around $2 billion USD after raising substantial funds in 2023.
