Ask HN: Examples of startups focused on AI?

#1

Post by machilin » Fri, Jul 05, 2013, 2:50 PM UTC

Hello there, I'm interested in dabbling with some projects related to artificial intelligence. And I would love to know of any big startups focused on AI, or build products enhanced with AI. Could you guys name a few? I know of some such as Hunch, Siri.

One pattern I noticed among most of these companies is that typically do not become really BIG companies or generate billions in revenue. So what's the prospect for someone looking to build a company focused on AI, or enhance current products with AI, e.g marrying real estate with AI, or search with AI? Or perhaps social networking with AI?

Re: Ask HN: Examples of startups focused on AI?

#2

Post by Irishsteve » Fri, Jul 05, 2013, 3:18 PM UTC

Google ?

Re: Ask HN: Examples of startups focused on AI?

#3

Post by GHFigs » Fri, Jul 05, 2013, 3:23 PM UTC

http://anki.com/ -- Some will remember them from the incongruous toy car demo at beginning of the WWDC Keynote.

Re: Ask HN: Examples of startups focused on AI?

#4

Post by evgenyp » Fri, Jul 05, 2013, 4:59 PM UTC

https://tempo.ai/ -- A Siri/Google Now/Cue/Donna competitor, based at Stanford Research Institute (SRI)

Re: Ask HN: Examples of startups focused on AI?

#5

Post by josephpmay » Fri, Jul 05, 2013, 5:49 PM UTC

evgenyp wrote: post #4

https://tempo.ai/ -- A Siri/Google Now/Cue/Donna competitor, based at Stanford Research Institute (SRI)

Their demo video is painful to watch.

Re: Ask HN: Examples of startups focused on AI?

#6

Post by josephpmay » Fri, Jul 05, 2013, 5:55 PM UTC

Not exactly a startup, but Grok (https://www.groksolutions.com/index.html), which was founded by Jeff Hawkins and used to be called Numenta, is a big AI company.

Re: Ask HN: Examples of startups focused on AI?

#7

Post by nekopa » Fri, Jul 05, 2013, 6:04 PM UTC

A little off-topic, but why don't you apply AI to a hot startup? I see your question as similar to saying 'Any hot rails startups?' AI shouldn't be a goal, but a means to an end. You are in a perfect outsiders position to look at various startups and say 'Hmm, maybe AI could help them with ...'

Just an idea...

Re: Ask HN: Examples of startups focused on AI?

#8

Post by seiji » Fri, Jul 05, 2013, 6:43 PM UTC

Every mention of AI should specify what you mean by "AI." Do you mean just k-means clustering? Collaborative filtering? Automatic image recognition? Automatic novel writing? Automated driving? Automated surgery? Automated world-level economic planning?

Lots of levels to explore.

Re: Ask HN: Examples of startups focused on AI?

#9

Post by machilin » Sat, Jul 06, 2013, 2:36 AM UTC

evgenyp wrote: post #4

https://tempo.ai/ -- A Siri/Google Now/Cue/Donna competitor, based at Stanford Research Institute (SRI)

Thanks for the answer. Their AI tech is quite amazing and with their 10M funding, they might be the next big thing since Siri.

Re: Ask HN: Examples of startups focused on AI?

#10

Post by machilin » Sat, Jul 06, 2013, 2:40 AM UTC

seiji wrote: post #8

Every mention of AI should specify what you mean by "AI." Do you mean just k-means clustering? Collaborative filtering? Automatic image recognition? Automatic novel writing? Automated driving? Automated surgery? Automated world-level economic planning? Lots of levels to explore.

Yes, I agree. But I'm interested in areas like machine learning, weak AI areas in which your computer can make smarter personal or business decisions for you, which might actually be helpful the largest possible group of people.