Yann LeCun has initiated fundraising efforts for his new startup, Advanced Machine Intelligence (AMI) Labs, aiming for a valuation near $3.5 billion before its official launch. Following his departure from Meta on November 18, where he served 12 years, LeCun seeks to establish a new direction in AI research focused on developing “world models” that possess a deeper understanding of physics and memory.
Based in Paris, AMI Labs plans to open its headquarters early next year, with LeCun taking on the role of executive chairman. He has appointed Alexandre LeBrun, founder of the health-tech company Nabla, as the CEO. The startup's funding target of €500 million (approximately $586 million) is poised to be one of the largest prelaunch fundraising rounds in AI history, reflecting substantial investor trust in LeCun’s innovative vision.
While Meta, under new leadership from chief AI officer Alexandr Wang, will not directly invest in AMI Labs, a partnership is anticipated to support LeCun's ongoing research. However, the ambitious valuation raises questions about the current state of the AI investment landscape, particularly regarding the potential for an investment bubble amidst growing competition from other European firms.