The French start-up, H, founded by veterans from Google’s DeepMind AI lab, has quickly made headlines with its ambitious goal of achieving artificial superintelligence (ASI). With its roots tracing back to the previous name, Holistic, the company has generated significant attention and investment, amounting to hundreds of millions of euros, before even launching its first product. Positioned in Paris, H aims to develop AI that surpasses human cognitive abilities, a pursuit that has become a focal point in the tech industry. The buzz surrounding the company highlights the growing interest in advanced AI technologies and their potential applications in various sectors.
Recently, H unveiled its inaugural product: an AI agent designed for businesses and developers, which focuses on business process outsourcing, quality assurance, and robotic process automation. This innovative AI model, referred to as Agentic AI, differentiates itself by not only processing information but also planning, completing tasks, and solving problems on behalf of users. H’s CEO, Charles Kantor, emphasized the product’s intent to empower users, enabling them to streamline workflows and interact with web processes more efficiently. The company launched a testing phase for its AI agent, generating further excitement as it prepares to enter a competitive landscape populated by other significant players in the AI space, including Microsoft and Anthropic.
What sets H apart from its rivals is its smaller but highly efficient large language model (LLM). Unlike larger models, like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which boasts 175 billion parameters, H operates with approximately 2 billion parameters. This unique design fosters a cost-effective solution for businesses seeking to harness AI technology without incurring excessive expenditures typically associated with larger models. The strategy underscores H’s commitment to creating accessible AI tools that can effectively serve various industry needs without compromising performance.
The founding team of H comprises notable figures in AI research and development, including Stanford researcher Kantor and former DeepMind alumnus Laurent Sifre, who serves as Chief Technology Officer. The team also included other skilled DeepMind alumni such as Karl Tuyls, Daan Wierstra, and Julien Perolat. Despite their expertise, the group parted ways from their previous collaborations due to “operational differences.” H now employs around 50 personnel, strategically based in Paris and London, aiming to innovate and expand within the competitive AI landscape.
Backing H is an impressive roster of investors, including notable figures like Bernard Arnault, the CEO of LVMH and Europe’s wealthiest man, as well as foundational support from Iliad founder Xavier Niel, Amazon, Samsung, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt. This strong backing facilitated H’s substantial fundraising efforts, amounting to $220 million (€210 million), before even selling its first product. Such financial support illustrates the confidence investors have in the team’s capability to revolutionize AI technology and positions H for significant impact in the AI sector moving forward.
As H ventures into the increasingly competitive AI market, the landscape remains dynamic, with emerging companies and established tech giants vying for position. While its ambition to advance toward artificial superintelligence raises questions and excitement, H’s success will depend on its ability to differentiate, innovate, and deliver effective solutions that resonate with businesses. As the company begins to deploy its AI agent, the tech community and investors will undoubtedly watch closely, eager to see whether H achieves its transformative vision in the realm of artificial intelligence.
