DeepMind co-founder David Silver raises $1.1B to develop AI that learns without human data

Ineffable Intelligence, a newly established British artificial intelligence lab founded by David Silver, has secured $1.1 billion in funding at a $5.1 billion valuation. The company is entering the race to build next-generation AI systems that could surpass the capabilities of current large language models.

According to details shared on its website, Ineffable Intelligence is developing what it calls a “superlearner” — an AI system designed to acquire knowledge and skills without relying on human-generated data. Instead, it will use reinforcement learning, a method where systems learn through trial and error. This approach aligns closely with Silver’s long-standing area of expertise.

Silver, who is also a professor at University College London, previously led the reinforcement learning team at DeepMind, a company owned by Google. During his more than decade-long tenure there, he contributed to the development of AI systems capable of mastering complex games such as chess and Go purely through self-play, without relying on historical human data. One of the most prominent examples of this work is AlphaZero.

Building on that foundation, Ineffable Intelligence aims to extend similar principles beyond games, enabling its system to discover broader forms of knowledge through experience independently.

The company has outlined ambitious aspirations for its technology. Its website states that, if successful, the system could represent a scientific advancement comparable in scale to foundational discoveries in biology, suggesting it could provide a framework for understanding and creating Intelligence itself.

In a personal note published on the company’s blog, Silver described the venture as his “life’s work.” He also indicated that any financial gains he personally receives from the company would be directed toward charitable initiatives focused on saving lives.

Despite uncertainty around how the company’s technology will translate into revenue, investor interest has been strong. According to reports, the funding round was led by Sequoia Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners, with participation from Index Ventures, Google, Nvidia, and others. Additional backers include the British Business Bank and Sovereign AI, a recently launched U.K. fund focused on investments in artificial Intelligence.

With a valuation exceeding $5 billion, Ineffable Intelligence has quickly reached what is often referred to as “pentacorn” status. It joins a growing group of AI startups founded by prominent researchers that have attracted unusually large early-stage funding rounds.

Recent examples include AMI Labs, co-founded by Yann LeCun, which raised over $1 billion at a multi-billion-dollar valuation. Another startup, Recursive Superintelligence, co-founded by Tim Rocktäschel, has reportedly secured significant funding as well, reflecting growing investor appetite for advanced AI research ventures.

These developments point to increasing momentum around London as a hub for artificial intelligence innovation. The continued presence of DeepMind following its acquisition by Google in 2014 has contributed to this ecosystem, alongside new initiatives such as Project Prometheus, reportedly backed by Jeff Bezos, which is exploring office space near Google’s AI operations. The region’s strength is further reinforced by a growing network of former DeepMind researchers, many of whom are now launching or joining new ventures such assuch as Ineffable Intelligence, helping shape the next phase of AI development.