General Intuition seeks funding at a $6B valuation for robotics work

In short: General Intuition is in talks to raise new funding at a $6 billion valuation as it expands its AI work into robotics.

What happened

General Intuition, a New York based AI startup, is in discussions to raise money at a $6 billion pre money valuation, according to TechCrunch sources familiar with the deal. Potential new investors include Valor Equity Partners, Point72 Ventures, and Seven Seven Six. Existing investors, including Khosla Ventures and General Catalyst, are also expected to take part.

This would come only weeks after General Intuition raised $320 million at a $2.3 billion valuation, TechCrunch reported previously. The company is still finalizing the new round, and one source said investor demand is higher than the amount being raised.

General Intuition’s work centers on teaching AI “agents” (software helpers that can take actions) to understand movement and timing in the real world. One unusual part of its training data comes from video games, including records of what buttons players pressed and when. You can think of it like teaching a student by watching many examples of hand movements, then asking them to use that learning to control a robot.

The company plans to use the money to improve its general AI model and focus on “robotic embodiments,” meaning AI that can control physical machines. That also includes spending more on compute infrastructure (the computers needed to train and run AI) and hiring more staff.

Why it matters

AI that can reliably control robots could affect everyday services over time, from warehouses and manufacturing to home devices. For now, the key point is financial, investors are placing a much higher value on companies trying to connect AI software to the physical world.

Source: TechCrunch AI