Paris AI Startup AMI Raises Record $1.03B Seed Funding

Advanced Machine Intelligence, a Paris-based AI startup co-founded by pioneering computer scientist Yann LeCun, announced Tuesday that it has secured $1.03 billion in seed funding, marking the largest such round for any European company. The investment values the six-month-old venture at $3.5 billion pre-money and positions it as a significant player in Europe's push to develop homegrown AI technologies.

The round was co-led by Cathay Innovation, Greycroft, Hiro Capital, HV Capital, and Bezos Expeditions. Additional backers include Nvidia, Samsung, Temasek, the Dassault Group, and prominent individuals such as Eric Schmidt, Tim Berners-Lee, Jim Breyer, Mark Cuban, and Xavier Niel. AMI plans to use the funds to advance research, acquire computing resources, and expand its team across hubs in Paris, New York, Montreal, and Singapore.

At the helm of AMI is CEO Alexandre LeBrun, a former executive at French healthcare AI firm Nabla, with LeCun serving as executive chair and Saining Xie, a New York University professor, as chief science officer. LeCun, who left his role as Meta's chief AI scientist last year after more than a decade leading its research efforts, brings decades of...