Some of the industry’s most well-known minds are teaming together to solve one of computing’s most difficult problems. According to CNBC, LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman and DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman have created Inflection AI, a startup that will utilize AI software to assist humans communicate with computers.
According to Suleyman, the goal is for people to be able to communicate with computers in everyday language, which will “very probably” be available in five years.
Suleyman will lead the company as CEO, with Karén Simonyan, a DeepMind alumnus, serving as the company’s chief scientist. The company intends to remain small in order to maintain the team’s focus and speed.
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In a statement released to the public, Suleyman noted, “Recent advances in artificial intelligence promise to fundamentally redefine human-machine interaction. We will soon have the ability to relay our thoughts and ideas to computers using the same natural, conversational language we use to communicate with people. Over time these new language capabilities will revolutionise what it means to have a digital experience.”
It took a long time for the decision to be made. Suleyman left DeepMind in August 2019 after a desire to “recharge” and complaints of his managerial style in prior years. Hoffman and Suleyman had known each other for nearly a decade. He joined Google’s VPP for AI product management and policy in December of that year, but resigned in January to work at Greylock Partners with Hoffman.
There are still a lot of questions about Inflection AI. It hasn’t defined its target market or specified a release date for its first products. The DeepMind veterans, on the other hand, may be able to assist the company’s chances, as they’re attempting to solve a widespread problem. Existing AI assistants aren’t very smart, and addressing this might improve everything from your smartphone to next-generation robotics.
