Ndea, a newly established venture co-founded by François Chollet and Mike Knoop, is set to explore innovative approaches in artificial general intelligence (AGI). The company plans to leverage program synthesis, among other techniques, to create AI systems capable of true invention and adaptation. This initiative marks a significant shift in the AI landscape, with prominent researchers stepping away from major tech companies to pursue independent research. Ndea's unique focus on efficient learning and continuous improvement sets it apart from traditional AI labs.

The startup aims to address some of the most challenging issues in AI research by using program synthesis, which enables AI to generalize problems from minimal examples. Chollet and Knoop believe this method can overcome existing computational limitations and accelerate scientific progress. With a team of top-tier experts and a vision for transformative innovation, Ndea is poised to make groundbreaking contributions to the field of AGI.

Embarking on a New Path to Achieve AGI

Ndea’s mission is to develop AI systems that can perform any task a human can, through novel designs and cutting-edge research. Co-founders Chollet and Knoop have outlined a distinct approach to building AGI, emphasizing the importance of true invention, adaptation, and innovation. By focusing on these aspects, they aim to create AI that can learn as efficiently as humans and continue improving over time without encountering bottlenecks. This ambitious goal reflects their belief in the potential of program synthesis to revolutionize AI development.

The concept of AGI has long been a target for many AI companies, including OpenAI. However, Ndea distinguishes itself by adopting a different path. Chollet highlights the need for an alternative approach to achieve breakthroughs in AI. He believes that program synthesis, which allows AI to solve new problems based on limited examples, can help overcome the most stubborn challenges in AI research. This technique, traditionally computing-intensive, holds promise for accelerating scientific advancements. Ndea’s founders are confident that their innovative methods will lead to significant progress in the quest for AGI.

Building a World-Class Team for Cutting-Edge Research

To realize its vision, Ndea is assembling a team of leading experts in program synthesis. Co-founder Mike Knoop emphasizes the importance of deep learning-guided program synthesis in creating AGI that can invent, adapt, and innovate. The company’s first priority is to develop this technology while also exploring the potential for metaphorical time travel into the future. By doing so, they hope to uncover knowledge and innovations that might not occur naturally for decades or even centuries.

Knoop is transitioning from his role at Zapier to dedicate himself fully to Ndea, though he will remain on Zapier’s board. His commitment underscores the significance of this new venture. Ndea’s hiring efforts for remote research positions indicate that the company has secured financial backing, although details about external investors have not been disclosed. With a team of top-tier professionals and a forward-thinking strategy, Ndea is well-positioned to make substantial contributions to the field of AI. Chollet, known for his work on Keras, adds further credibility to the project, signaling a new era of independent AI research outside of Big Tech.