Startup AI lab Flapping Airplanes recently announced a $180 million seed round, led by Sequoia Capital, Google Ventures (GV), and Index Ventures. While many labs are training models by "draining internet data," this lab takes the opposite approach, focusing on improving AI's learning efficiency.

The lab was co-founded by brothers Ben Spector and Asher Spector, along with Aidan Smith. They believe that the current AI model's high demand for data is inefficient, and the human brain should be the "baseline" rather than the "ceiling" for AI development. Flapping Airplanes aims to increase the data efficiency of model training by 1000 times, unlocking new AI capabilities by mimicking the human brain's learning mechanisms.

Although no commercial products have been launched yet, the team's commitment to "research-first" has successfully impressed investors. In the latest episode of the TechCrunch Equity podcast, the team shared their hiring philosophy that prioritizes creativity over traditional credentials, as well as new paradigms for AI development in the era of "neolabs."

Key Points:

  • 💰 Large Seed Round: Flapping Airplanes secured $180 million in funding led by Sequoia Capital, used for developing AI models with high data efficiency.

  • 🧠 Brain-Inspired Efficiency: The team is working to make AI learn as efficiently as humans, aiming to improve existing data utilization efficiency by 1000 times.

  • 🔬 Research-Oriented: The lab is not rushing to commercialize, but instead focuses on fundamental scientific research, attempting to redefine the boundaries of AI learning.