Richard Socher launches $650M startup to build AI that improves itself

Richard Socher, former chief scientist at Salesforce and founder of You.com, has raised $650 million for a new startup called Greycroft focused on 'recursive superintelligence' — an AI system that can research and improve itself indefinitely. The funding, reported on May 14, comes from investors including GV (Google Ventures) and Greycroft Partners. Socher insists the company will ship actual products rather than remaining purely research-focused. The startup enters a crowded field of companies pursuing AI self-improvement, but Socher's track record and the size of the funding round make it one of the most closely watched new ventures in the AI space.