David Silver, a prominent figure in AI research and a former key employee at Google DeepMind, is launching a new startup named Ineffable Intelligence, based in London. The venture aims to recruit AI researchers and is currently seeking venture capital funding, according to sources familiar with his plans. Silver's departure from Google DeepMind was confirmed by a spokesperson, who acknowledged his significant contributions to the company.
Prior to his exit, Silver was on sabbatical and did not officially return to his role. He co-founded Ineffable Intelligence in November 2025 and was appointed as its director on January 16, as indicated by filings with the U.K. business registry. His personal website now lists his affiliation with this new company while still referencing his leadership in reinforcement learning at Google DeepMind.
Silver has been instrumental in several groundbreaking AI projects since DeepMind's inception in 2010, including the development of AlphaGo, which famously defeated top human players in Go. Additionally, he contributed to the advancements of other notable AI systems like AlphaStar and MuZero. He remains a professor at University College London, maintaining his academic ties alongside his new entrepreneurial endeavor.