Search our blog for articles and insights right here, just type your interest and dive into a world of knowledge.
Popular articles
Ex-Humane Employees Venture into AI-powered Fact-checking Search Engine
In a significant industry shift, two top employees from Humane have departed to establish their own startup, Infactory, focusing on a fact-checking search engine. Former Humane Strategic Partnerships Lead Brooke Hartley Moy and Head of Product Engineering Ken Kocienda have chosen to steer clear of hardware, an area where Humane has faced substantial challenges. The startup aims to leverage large language models (LLMs) to facilitate a natural language interface without relying on AI to populate the search results themselves. Kocienda and Hartley Moy, now Infactory’s CTO and CEO respectively, emphasized their deliberate approach to AI, highlighting its appropriate use for interface rather than content generation.
Infactory's results will be sourced directly from trusted resources, complete with citations, unlike Google's AI-generated summaries. This approach ensures greater accuracy and minimizes the "hallucinations" that current generative AI tools often experience. The platform will primarily cater to enterprise clients such as newsrooms and research facilities, utilizing a subscription-based pricing model.
The service will initially focus on data, avoiding subjective topics like politics. An illustrative example includes comparing annual financial reports of different companies, ensuring the data comes from the most accurate sources available. According to Hartley Moy, the quality of data partners is crucial for Infactory’s mission, prioritizing computationally accurate information over general content providers.
While Infactory has secured pre-seed funding, specifics on the amount and investors remain undisclosed. Hartley Moy mentioned that seed funding will be a primary objective over the next six to 18 months. The founders also addressed their departure from Humane, which has faced post-launch issues, including underwhelming consumer response to its much-hyped AI Pin. Despite these challenges, they insist their decision was not driven by Humane’s struggles.
Challenges and Prospects
Kocienda and Hartley Moy acknowledge the difficulties inherent in launching a new venture. Kocienda expressed respect for the risk-taking involved in starting a company, noting that such efforts are essential for the industry's innovation, which should not be monopolized by large conglomerates. He emphasized the importance of both new hardware and software solutions emerging from startups.
Hartley Moy revealed that Infactory’s official launch is imminent, set to take place within a few months.
