Former Twitch CEO Shear Launches Stealth AI Startup Backed by a16z
Ex-Twitch CEO Emmett Shear is building a stealth AI company called Stem AI, which focuses on aligning artificial intelligence with human behavior and ethics. The new venture secures early backing from prominent venture firm Andreessen Horowitz.
Former Twitch CEO Emmett Shear launches a stealth artificial intelligence startup called Stem AI, with backing from major venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz. Public documents show the company incorporates in June 2023 and files a trademark in August of the same year, listing Shear as the chief executive. He teams up with co-founder Adam Goldstein, who previously founds the travel site Hipmunk and works as a visiting scientist at Tufts University’s Levin Labs.
According to its trademark application, Stem AI develops software designed to create AI that understands and aligns with human behavior, preferences, biology, morality, and ethics. This focus on the "AI alignment" problem mirrors recent public comments from Shear, where he heavily criticizes current AI chatbots as manipulative and lacking a stable internal sense of self. He also frequently shares his strong opinions on social media regarding AI safety, regulation, and the potential future of superintelligence.
Details about the startup remain tightly guarded, and Shear declines to reveal specific plans when contacted for comment. Despite the secrecy, the involvement of high-profile figures like Shear and Goldstein, combined with the financial backing of a16z, signals strong industry interest in solving the complex challenges of human-AI interaction. The startup currently operates in stealth mode as it builds out its foundational technology.