Former Google DeepMind Researcher Raises Record $1.1 Billion Seed Round for New AI Startup Chasing Superintelligence
Summary
Former Google DeepMind researcher David Silver's new AI startup, Ineffable Intelligence, raises a record-breaking $1.1 billion seed round at a $5.1 billion valuation, marking the largest seed round in European history as it pursues superintelligence through reinforcement learning, backed by Sequoia, Nvidia, Google, and others.
Key Points
- Former Google DeepMind researcher David Silver's new AI startup, Ineffable Intelligence, raises a record-breaking $1.1 billion seed round, achieving a $5.1 billion valuation in what marks the largest seed round in European history.
- Ineffable Intelligence, founded in late 2025, focuses on reinforcement learning to pursue superintelligence, with backing from major investors including Sequoia, Lightspeed, Nvidia, Google, and the UK's Sovereign AI Fund.
- Silver's fundraise is part of a growing trend of Big Tech AI researchers launching their own startups, with other former DeepMind and Meta researchers also raising billions in recent months to build competing AI labs.