Key Takeaways
- Humanoid robotics startup Beyond Imagination, co-founded by AI futurist Ray Kurzweil, is set to receive $100 million in Series B funding.
- Venture capital firm Gauntlet Ventures will be the sole investor, valuing Beyond Imagination at $500 million.
- The company is developing humanoid robots, called Beyond Bots, and an AI operating system for industrial use.
- This investment highlights growing interest in humanoid robots to address labor shortages and boost manufacturing.
Beyond Imagination, a robotics company co-founded by renowned futurist Ray Kurzweil, has announced a significant $100 million Series B funding round. This investment will come solely from venture capital firm Gauntlet Ventures, pushing Beyond Imagination’s valuation to $500 million.
Kurzweil, famous for his predictions about “the singularity” where AI surpasses human intelligence, co-founded the company with scientist and entrepreneur Harry Kloor. Their focus is on creating humanoid robots, known as Beyond Bots, along with advanced AI models.
These robots are designed for industrial environments, such as factories, pharmaceutical plants, and chip manufacturing facilities, according to Oliver Carmack, co-founder of Gauntlet Ventures. Carmack stated that the firm chose to invest due to Beyond Imagination’s potential to transform U.S. manufacturing and tackle the anticipated global shortage of skilled workers.
After a period of testing, Beyond Imagination is now seeking large companies to deploy its robots. The move comes as major tech players like Nvidia, Meta, and Tesla, alongside numerous startups, are intensifying efforts in humanoid robotics. They are betting that recent AI advancements will also spur breakthroughs in robots and automation.
Progress in robotics has faced challenges, as AI breakthroughs in language haven’t directly translated to understanding the physical world. Companies are investing heavily to gather the real-world data needed to train robots effectively.
In addition to its robots, Beyond Imagination is also creating Aura. Co-founder Kloor describes Aura as a universal operating system for intelligent manufacturing, designed to enable humans, robots, and older machinery to collaborate seamlessly. This information was reported by Reuters.
The company has also brought on a diverse group of advisors, including former Qualcomm CEO Paul Jacobs, motivational speaker Tony Robbins, and former Paramount Pictures chairman Jim Gianopulos.
