Geoffrey Hinton, better known as the “Godfather of Artificial Intelligence”, has been a harbinger of doom for how the new technology could affect humanity since his dramatic departure from Google last year.
But more than a year later, the former opponent of Google and artificial intelligence is back to betting on the technology’s ability to change the world for the better.
Cambridge-based CuspAI has emerged from secrecy with a seed round of $30 million.
The company will help users design next-generation building materials through deep learning and molecular simulation, making design more efficient. In a major coup, he won the endorsement of Hinton, a prominent AI skeptic.
Hinton has agreed to serve as an advisor to CuspAI’s board of directors. His statement accompanying the announcement was appropriately controversial, thanks to the band’s use of the technology that defined Hinton’s life and career.
“Humanity will face many challenges in the coming decade. Some will be caused by AI, while others can be solved by AI,” Hinton said.
“I am very impressed with CuspAI and its mission to accelerate the process of designing new materials using artificial intelligence to mitigate one of humanity’s most pressing challenges – climate change.”
CuspAI emerges from stealth
CuspAI plans to use search engine-style features to identify properties needed for new building materials on demand, aiding their discovery.
“Imagine a search engine not just for existing materials, but for all the potential molecules and materials that could be created,” said Professor Max Welling, Co-Founder and Chief AI Officer at CuspAI.
In the process, the co-founders hope, CuspAI can help offset an emerging disease caused by the rapid rise of artificial intelligence – its disproportionate levels of carbon emissions.
According to co-founder and CEO Dr. Chad Edwards, CuspAI wants its technology to contribute to the world’s growing carbon capture and storage capabilities.
“The AI revolution itself creates new challenges, including rapidly increasing energy consumption and carbon emissions from data centers,” Edwards said.
“Our technology can help mitigate this impact by designing materials that effectively capture carbon dioxide.”
Meta chief scientist Yann Le Cun said the tech giant plans to partner with CuspAI to accelerate its discovery of new carbon capture materials.
CuspAI’s $30 million round was led by Hoxton Ventures and had “significant participation” from Basis Set Ventures and Lightspeed Venture Partners.
In 2022, Hoxton raised a $215 million fund to support European startups. It has the form to support successful European growth companies such as Deliveroo and Darktrace.
CuspAI’s capital raise is the venture capital group’s latest major investment in AI over the past 18 months as investors look to catch the wave of tomorrow’s growth leaders.
The Godfather returns
Hinton, 76, left his role at Google last May in an exclusive interview with Google New York Timesin which he appeared to bemoan his life’s work while warning of the future dangers of AI to humanity.
Since then, Hinton’s press appearances have only seen him double down on that stance.
In an interview with 60 minutes last October he suggested that a rogue AI would learn to manipulate its users by learning Machiavelli and other “political contrivances.”
He is also worried about the impact of AI on the job market, he told the BBC Newsnight in May he believed that a universal basic income would be required to replace many “mundane jobs”.
Now, however, Hinton seems to see promise in using CuspAI to at least combat climate change, even as he meditates on the technology’s other existential threats.