Google Launches AI Fund for Startups; Saudi Arabia Unveils New AI Company
Key Takeaways
- Google launched the AI Futures Fund to invest in AI startups using DeepMind's AI tools.
- Saudi Arabia launched Humain, an AI company funded by PIF, to strengthen its AI sector.
- Sakana AI introduced ‘Continuous Thought Machines’ (CTMs), a new AI architecture for reasoning.
- Google's Gemma AI models surpassed 150 million downloads since its launch in February 2024.
- VCs at a16z are reportedly trying to raise a $20 billion mega-fund for AI investments.
Top Stories
Google launches AI Futures Fund for AI startups
On May 12, 2025, Google announced the AI Futures Fund to invest in AI startups using Google DeepMind's AI tools. The fund supports startups from seed to late stage with access to Google AI models, experts, cloud credits, and potential direct investment, with applications opening on May 12.
Saudi Arabia launches AI company Humain
On May 12, 2025, Saudi Arabia's ruler, Mohammed bin Salman, launched Humain, an AI company funded by the Public Investment Fund (PIF). The goal is to strengthen the country's AI sector and build AI infrastructure, including data centers.
Sakana AI introduces 'Continuous Thought Machines' (CTMs)
On May 12, 2025, Sakana AI introduced a new AI architecture called ‘Continuous Thought Machines’ (CTMs), designed to enable AI models to reason with less guidance, similar to human brains, and handle a wider range of cognitive tasks. CTMs achieved 72.47% top-1 and 89.89% top-5 accuracy on the ImageNet-1K benchmark, built around short neuron history and organic neural synchronization, producing step-by-step directional outputs from raw images without positional embeddings and exhibiting strong calibration.
Google's Gemma AI models exceed 150M downloads
Reported on May 12, 2025, Google's Gemma AI models surpassed 150 million downloads by May 11, 2025. Developers have created over 70,000 variants on Hugging Face since its launch in February 2024 to compete with models like Meta's Llama.
VCs discuss 'AI agent' definition; mega-fund sought
On May 12, 2025, TechCrunch reported that VCs at a16z, including Guido Appenzeller, Matt Bornstein, and Yoko Li, discussed the undefined nature of "AI agent" during a podcast. a16z, which backs AI companies like OpenAI and Anysphere, is reportedly trying to raise a $20 billion mega-fund for AI investments.