Sesame AI Raises $250M, Launches Beta - Founded by Oculus Founders

Sesame Secures $250 Million in Series B Funding and Initiates Beta Program

Sesame, a company developing conversational AI and smart eyewear, has announced the completion of a $250 million Series B funding round. Simultaneously, the company is initiating a beta testing phase, accessible to a limited number of participants, as revealed on Tuesday.

Founders and Core Technology

The startup is led by Brendan Iribe, previously co-founder and CEO of Oculus, and Ankit Kumar, formerly the CTO of augmented reality firm Ubiquity6. Their focus is on crafting a personalized AI agent capable of interacting with users through remarkably natural speech.

The intention is to integrate this AI agent into lightweight, everyday eyewear. This design allows for continuous wear and hands-free interaction via voice commands.

Initial Public Response to AI Voices

Sesame initially unveiled its technology in February, showcasing two AI voice models named “Maya” and “Miles.” These voices quickly garnered significant attention, with over a million users generating more than 5 million minutes of conversational engagement within the first few weeks.

According to a recent statement from Sesame investor Sequoia, the user experience was notably distinct. “It doesn’t merely convert LLM output to audio; it directly produces speech,” the statement explains, “capturing the nuances of genuine dialogue, including rhythm and emotional expression.”

Positive Early Feedback

Initial assessments of the technology demo have been largely positive. A report from The Verge characterized Sesame as “genuinely fun” and praised its “natural-sounding” quality.

Sesame asserts that its forthcoming glasses will deliver “high-quality audio” and provide access to an AI companion that actively “observes the world” alongside the user.

Design and Future Availability

Sequoia highlighted that the smartglasses being developed by Sesame are designed with aesthetics in mind. The goal is to create a product that users would want to wear regardless of its integrated AI capabilities.

A specific release timeframe for the glasses has not yet been disclosed, as Sequoia acknowledges that “hardware development requires considerable time.”

Experienced Team

Sesame benefits from a highly experienced team. This includes Oculus co-founder Nate Mitchell, serving as chief product officer, and Hans Hartmann, former Oculus COO and Fitbit executive, as COO.

Further bolstering the team are Ryan Brown, a former Oculus engineering manager and Reality Labs engineering director, and Angela Gayles, a long-serving executive from Facebook and Meta.

Beta Program Launch

Alongside the Series B announcement, Brendan Iribe revealed on X that Sesame is now accepting applications for an early beta test of the Sesame iOS app. This app will allow testers to directly interact with the AI technology, offering functionalities for “searching, texting, and thinking.”

Participants in the beta program are requested to maintain confidentiality regarding their experiences, refraining from discussing specific features or results outside of the designated beta test forums.

Investment Details

The Sesame Series B round included participation from Sequoia, Spark, and other investors who have not been publicly named, according to Iribe.