Plural, led by Ian Hogarth, spearheads a substantial funding round for the promising AI startup Oriole Networks.
- The London-based company aims to revolutionize generative AI with its unique photonics technology.
- Oriole Networks boasts the potential to train AI models 100 times faster with significantly reduced energy use.
- Ian Hogarth’s leadership and past success in tech startups bolster the credentials of this investment.
- Existing investors, including UCL Technology Fund and XTX Ventures, continue their support in this financial round.
Spearheaded by Ian Hogarth, Plural has spearheaded a noteworthy £16.9 million investment in London’s Oriole Networks. This promising startup, which originated as a spinout from University College London, is pioneering efforts to enhance generative AI. Oriole Networks is harnessing photonics technology to potentially revolutionize the speed and sustainability of AI model training.
The innovative approach by Oriole Networks entails utilizing photonics to establish networks of AI chips, thus enabling the convergence of their computational power. This method has the potential to expedite large language model (LLM) training by up to 100 times compared to traditional approaches, all while using markedly less energy. The generation of AI models is currently hindered by the high energy demands of data centers, a challenge that Oriole Networks aims to address significantly.
Ian Hogarth, a prominent government AI advisor and experienced entrepreneur, underscores the transformative potential of photonics in AI. “Applying 20 years of deep research and learning in photonics to create a better AI infrastructure demonstrates how much more innovation there is to come,” he states. Hogarth’s distinguished background, including his pivotal role in Songkick and his involvement in the AI Safety Institute, lends considerable credibility to his backing of Oriole Networks.
The investment round also saw participation from prominent existing investors such as UCL Technology Fund, XTX Ventures, Clean Growth Fund, and Dorilton Ventures. This continued support underscores the confidence stakeholders have in Oriole Networks’ vision and its commitment to reshaping the AI landscape. Oriole Networks’ CEO, James Regan, articulates the company’s ambition to develop an ecosystem of photonic networking that will overhaul the industry’s infrastructure by tackling current limitations.
Ian Hogarth’s investment in Oriole Networks marks a significant stride towards more efficient and sustainable AI technologies, highlighting the growing importance of innovative approaches in the AI sector.
