Former David Silver, known for leading the development of AlphaGo at Google DeepMind, has raised $1.1 billion in seed funding for his new AI startup, Ineffable Intelligence. The round is being described as the largest seed funding ever for a European startup, valuing the company at around $5.1 billion.
The newly launched lab is focused on building what it calls a “superlearner”—an artificial intelligence system capable of discovering knowledge and skills entirely from its own experience, without relying on human-generated training data.
Unlike current AI models that are trained on vast datasets of human text and content, Ineffable Intelligence is taking a fundamentally different approach based on reinforcement learning. This method allows AI systems to learn through trial and error, improving performance by interacting with environments and optimizing outcomes over time.
The vision is to create AI that can independently develop capabilities—from basic tasks to complex scientific reasoning—potentially rediscovering and even surpassing human knowledge in areas like mathematics, language, and technology.
The funding round was led by major venture capital firms including Sequoia Capital and Lightspeed, with participation from global players such as Nvidia and Google, along with support from the UK government.
Silver’s move reflects a broader shift in the AI industry, where leading researchers are exploring alternatives to large language models. By focusing on self-learning systems rather than data-driven training, the startup aims to push AI development toward more autonomous and general intelligence.
The development highlights growing investor confidence in next-generation AI approaches, particularly those that could overcome the limitations of current models and redefine how machines learn, adapt, and innovate.
