Brain Technologies Raises $50M+ for Natural Language Search Engine

A New Approach to Personal Assistance: Brain Technologies Launches Natural

For years, voice-activated personal assistant applications have aimed to simplify tasks through natural language processing and advanced AI. However, these applications frequently fall short in delivering a truly seamless user experience, often failing to provide accurate or relevant responses. Now, a startup, Brain Technologies, is emerging from stealth mode with a new application designed to overcome these limitations.

Securing Funding and Entering the Market

Brain Technologies has announced $50 million in funding – specifically, an amount exceeding $50 million with the precise figure remaining undisclosed. This investment comes from a diverse group of backers, including Emerson Collective, backed by Laurene Powell Jobs, Goodwater Capital, and WTT Investment, alongside Scott Cook. This strong investor confidence highlights the potential Brain Technologies has demonstrated, even prior to its initial product release.

Before this recent funding round, Brain Technologies had already secured $1.5 million in seed funding back in 2016 from an anonymous investor while operating in a discreet manner.

Beyond the Traditional "Personal Assistant"

Jerry Yue, founder and CEO of Brain, a serial entrepreneur with a background in robotics, clarifies that Natural isn’t intended to be categorized as a typical “personal assistant” application. This distinction is made not due to the past shortcomings of such apps, but to distance the application from the common association with voice-only interactions.

“Our focus isn’t solely on voice assistance; we believe the future lies in a balanced integration of voice and a native app experience,” Yue explained.

Introducing the "Generative Computer Interface"

Yue positions Natural as the world’s first “generative computer interface,” representing a significant evolution in how users access and interact with digital information. This concept builds upon the progression from the early web, to search engines, and subsequently to dedicated applications.

Currently, users can input questions or commands through voice or text, and Natural responds with solutions that may include links to existing applications on the user’s device.

Real-World Application Examples

For instance, a query like “I’d like sushi tonight” will ideally return options for ordering sushi from local restaurants via integrated food delivery apps, suggestions for dining establishments, and even resources for preparing sushi at home, including online ingredient purchasing options.

Similarly, travel-related searches provide results that draw from various sources, such as airlines and travel aggregators, allowing for direct booking with editable options, assuming payment information is already stored on the device. This contrasts with some existing platforms where navigating to external sites for booking can result in increased costs.

Adaptive Learning and AI Innovation

The application is designed to learn user preferences over time, refining its responses based on individual usage patterns. This adaptive learning capability is powered by Brain’s unique approach to AI, based on the principle of “one shot” learning.

Yue describes this as a form of general-purpose AI, “a tool that learns to utilize other tools.” This differs from the more conventional, labor-intensive AI systems that rely heavily on keyword-based analysis and extensive human coding to connect services.

Brain’s system has independently learned over 4 million functions, according to Yue. The ultimate goal of this advanced AI is to minimize device interaction and allow users to focus on experiences in the real world.

Potential and Industry Recognition

The success of Natural will depend on its ability to gain widespread adoption among consumers and effectively combine anticipatory AI with intuitive design. However, the team and their innovative technology are poised to become highly sought after, given the continued growth and importance of AI in the technology sector.

Investor Scott Cook, founder of Intuit, stated, “What Jerry and his team are developing is incredibly special. I’m not aware of anyone doing more interesting work to demonstrate how fundamentally AI can enhance our everyday lives.”

Tom Goodwin, a beta tester of Natural, shared, “Experiencing this app is the closest thing I’ve felt to the first time I used an iPhone. The software felt magical, and every animation felt dynamic yet subtle. I love the idea of one place to go for everything.”