The lab's scientists include former employees of Google and Meta Platforms Inc. Niel and Saadé are also seed investors in Mistral AI and Poolside AI, both AI startups based in France. CMA CGM plans to use AI to optimize its operations, HR, and customer relations tools. The announcement was made at the AI-Pulse conference in Paris, which included several scientists hired by the new lab.
Key takeaways:
- Billionaires Xavier Niel, Rodolphe Saadé and Eric Schmidt have announced a new nonprofit artificial intelligence research lab in Paris, called kyutai, with €300 million in total funding.
- Niel’s Iliad and Saadé’s CMA CGM SA will each invest €100 million, while Eric Schmidt will invest an undisclosed amount via Schmidt Ventures.
- The lab will produce open-source research and some of its scientists previously worked for Google and Meta Platforms Inc.
- Niel and Saadé are also seed investors in France’s Mistral AI and Poolside AI, with CMA CGM planning to use AI to optimize its operations, HR and customer relations tools.