Humans& is pioneering a new frontier in AI by addressing the limitations of current chatbots, which primarily serve individual users rather than facilitating real teamwork. The startup, co-founded by alumni from leading AI companies such as Anthropic, Meta, OpenAI, xAI, and Google DeepMind, aims to create a “central nervous system” for the evolving human-AI economy. With a remarkable $480 million seed funding round secured this week, the focus is on developing a foundation model tailored for social intelligence, contrasting with traditional models that emphasize information retrieval and code generation.
The company champions the vision of empowering people amid increasing AI integration, proposing a shift away from the notion that AI will replace jobs. As workplaces transition from chat tools to more advanced AI agents, the demand for effective coordination in team settings is paramount. Despite the promising funding, Humans& has yet to launch a product, although hints suggest it may transform how multi-user contexts operate, potentially challenging established platforms like Slack and Google Docs.
Key aspects of Humans&’s mission include:
– Revolutionizing group decision-making processes by introducing AI that interacts like a knowledgeable colleague.
– Training models to prioritize understanding questions deeply, enhancing user engagement.
– Aiming not just to integrate into existing tools, but to redesign the collaboration layer entirely.
This shift aligns with thought leaders like LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, who argue that the future of work lies in improving coordination and communication over mere automation.
The startup’s innovative long-horizon reinforcement learning strategy is designed to enable the model to learn from ongoing interactions, optimizing decision-making over time rather than delivering isolated responses. However, significant challenges remain, such as securing continuous financing and competing with tech giants pursuing similar goals.
As Humans& strives to carve out its niche by developing AI-driven solutions for collective productivity, the company faces a landscape dotted with established players actively enhancing collaborative AI capabilities. The unique emphasis on social intelligence may offer Humans& a competitive edge, making its journey a potential game changer in human-AI interaction.
With bold aspirations articulated by co-founder Zelikman, who believes in the transformative potential of their vision, Humans& seeks to redefine the dynamics of how individuals and teams collaborate in an AI-enhanced world.
