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AI
Zaker Adham
1 hour ago
06 October 2024
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Zaker Adham
Summary
Summary
Convergence, a startup aiming to bring personal AI agents to the masses, has successfully secured $12 million in pre-seed funding. The funding round was led by Balderton Capital, with additional participation from Salesforce Ventures and Shopify Ventures. The investment will fuel the development of Convergence’s innovative AI Proxy assistants, which go beyond traditional AI models by focusing on continual learning and memory-based skill acquisition.
Founded in April 2024 by Marvin Purtorab (CEO) and Andy Toulis (CTO), Convergence is reshaping the way individuals interact with AI-powered software. Unlike most AI systems designed for specific tasks, the company’s flagship product, Proxy, is built to learn continuously and adapt to new workflows over time. By taking over repetitive administrative tasks, Proxy can free up workers to focus on higher-value activities, addressing the issue of wasted productivity, as research suggests 62% of an average employee’s workday is spent on routine tasks.
Beyond the workplace, Proxy is tailored for personal use as well, empowering consumers to automate daily tasks such as booking vacations or ordering groceries. With the beta launch of Proxy, a limited number of users can now experience this cutting-edge technology firsthand.
The company’s leadership team brings extensive expertise from their previous work at Shopify, where they developed AI assistants and recommender systems before joining Cohere, an enterprise-focused AI platform. Since Convergence’s inception, they’ve assembled a team of AI specialists from top-tier companies like Google DeepMind, Meta, and PolyAI. Their rapid progress—from concept to product launch in just three months—has generated substantial interest in Convergence and its mission to transform personal AI.
Most AI assistants today are designed to handle specific tasks or workflows, but Proxy sets itself apart by leveraging Large Meta Learning Models (LMLM). These models are trained to learn and acquire skills dynamically, much like a human would, through continual learning and long-term memory. This allows Proxy to not only master tasks but also apply learned skills to new situations over time.
As Marvin Purtorab, CEO of Convergence, explains: "Imagine an AI agent that continues to grow and learn the more you interact with it. Over time, Proxy can take on repetitive tasks, allowing you to focus on more impactful and enjoyable activities. Our approach relies on Proxy’s ability to memorize tasks and recall them for future use, much like how a human learns and applies skills."
The potential for personal AI assistants is vast, and co-founder and CTO Andy Toulis believes the future lies in human-machine collaboration: "We envision a future where people and AI Proxies work together daily to solve complex problems. The possibilities for human-machine collaboration are endless, and we’re excited to build this future right here in London, one of the global hubs for AI talent."
With this new round of funding, Convergence plans to further refine its Proxy technology and expand its team of experts. The backing from Balderton Capital and other prominent investors underscores the belief in the company’s mission to create a new class of AI that learns and adapts like never before.
AI
Zaker Adham
1 hour ago
AI
Zaker Adham
1 day ago
AI
Zaker Adham
1 day ago
AI
Zaker Adham
1 day ago