Skild AI, a Pittsburgh-based start-up, has closed a colossal $300m Series A round involving giants such as Jeff Bezos. The company aims to transform robotics by developing an open-source, general-purpose robot platform with multiple physical forms and applications.
The vision of Skild AI
Skild AI is already pioneering a new generation of robotics. While most robots have a vertically integrated function for a particular use, Skild’s model is more of a general-purpose brain. Skild AI is in the process of building an intelligence model based on the physical world. Their approach entails using at least 1,000 times more data points to train their model than other models. This extensive training enables their AI brain to move toward different scenarios and tasks.
From robust quadrupedal robots coping with harsh environments to perceptual bipedal ones performing delicate tasks, Skild’s model applies to various industries with affordable robotic platforms. Skild’s general-purpose AI model guarantees only that robots can safely interface with people. However, unlike robots designed for specific locations or rooms, these versatile robots can do new tasks with people or even in dangerous situations.
The mission of Skild AI
Skild AI, founded in 2023 by two pioneers in self-supervised and adaptive robotics, has an ambitious mission: to build artificial general intelligence (AGI) grounded in the physics of physical reality. In this way, Skild AI disproves the idea that AGI can emerge only from digital knowledge and establishes a scalable base for robotics. This model is a ubiquitous and general-purpose common cognitive platform for various robot avatars and a range of practical applications.
Besides, they acknowledge the severe problem of labor scarcity in the U.S., coupled with more than 1.7 million jobs open to workers, especially in the construction, healthcare, manufacturing, and warehousing sectors. Skild AI thinks employing robots for boring, monotonous, and occasionally risky operations can efficiently resolve this problem.
Investors and Valuation
The $300 million Series A funding’s main investors include Lightspeed Venture Partners, Coatue, SoftBank Group, and Jeff Bezos from Bezos Expeditions. Other participants included Felicis Ventures, Sequoia, Menlo Ventures, General Catalyst, CRV, Amazon, SV Angel, and Carnegie Mellon University. With the new funding, the firm’s valuation has risen to an impressive $1.5 billion.
Team Behind Skild AI
The development team behind Skild AI consists of robotics and AI professionals employed by reputable organizations and institutions. These experts have a wealth of knowledge and experience with the subjects taught. The team also includes talent from Meta, developed from the former Facebook Reality Labs, a company engaged in augmented and virtual reality. Some members have worked at Tesla, a company that specializes in electric and self-driving cars.
Leading players in the field, including Nvidia, which specializes in GPUs and AI hardware, provide their insights. Skilled AI derives its advantages from workers with experience at Amazon, an international e-commerce and cloud solutions provider. The team is comprised of individuals with prior experience from Google, one of the most influential players in the information technology sector globally. We have a diverse talent pool of employees and freelancers, including eminent universities like Carnegie Mellon University, Stanford University, and UC Berkeley. These diverse origins come together to propel Skild AI’s work toward establishing a scalable foundation model for robotics. Their vision is to transform how robotic systems are used in different industries and tasks.
Conclusion
Specifically, Skild AI’s foundational achievements have wide-ranging implications for the prospects of automation and the physical economy. Consequently, where industries are struggling to source labor or seeking safer and more efficient methods, Skild’s model is a revolution. The idea of a shared and adaptive data space for robots that Skilled AI is developing can become a revolution in various industries and cooperation with robots. With this much funding, they are well equipped to spearhead the change towards a more automated future that would be more efficient.
