If you have an artificial intelligence startup that is ready for the next stage, Paul Allen’s Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2) wants to hear from you. The firm is looking to partner with outside startups for the first time, offering up to $250,000 in seed money, six months of free office space and access to their team of 70 researchers.
The institute’s goal is to have the first class ready to go by year’s end. Entrepreneurs with a strong background in technology and a great idea for using artificial intelligence are the ideal candidates for the program, says Jacob Colker, entrepreneur in residence at AI2. While the opportunity is open to any idea that advances AI’c commercialization potential, the institute is focusing on machine learning, computer vision and natural language processing, since these technologies pair well with AI2’s researchers.
Two companies have already been spun out from the institute. Kitt.ai is developing a conversational language engine and was recently acquired by Baidu. Xnor.ai is focusing on making AI work on smartphones and IoT devices. It recently raised nearly $3 million in seed capital.
Washington State is becoming a hotbed for artificial intelligence technologies, a natural extension of its information and communication technology sector and leadership in cloud computing and big data. Recognizing the possibilities of AI, Microsoft recently formed a new 5,000 member engineering and research group to focus on artificial intelligence.
Learn more about the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence.
