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Google DeepMind Alumni Launch AI Agent That Outperforms Claude and GPT-5.5 at Replicating Scientific Research

Aug 24, 2026
TechCrunch
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Summary

Google DeepMind alumni launch Faraday, an AI agent that outperforms Claude Opus 4.8 and GPT-5.5 at replicating scientific research using a lean 27-billion-parameter model, as London startup Inherent emerges from stealth with a $50 million seed round and bold ambitions to push AI toward discovering entirely new scientific knowledge.

Key Points

  • London-based AI startup Inherent, founded by Google DeepMind alumni, releases its AI agent Faraday, which outperforms Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.8 and OpenAI's GPT-5.5 at independently replicating published scientific research findings.
  • Faraday achieves these results using a comparatively small 27-billion-parameter model and relies on reinforcement learning to develop 'research taste,' an instinct for designing and prioritizing worthwhile experiments.
  • Just weeks out of stealth with a $50 million seed round, Inherent operates with a team of 12 in London's King's Cross and plans to grow to 20-25 employees by year's end, with ambitions to build AI capable of discovering entirely new scientific knowledge.

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