ExGoogle Scientist Secures £11 Billion for New London Startup Ineffable Intelligence

A new London-based artificial intelligence startup, Ineffable Intelligence, has successfully completed Europe’s largest seed funding round, amassing $1.1 billion at a valuation exceeding $5 billion. Founded by David Silver, a former lead at Google DeepMind, the company aims to create a groundbreaking “superlearner” that operates independently of human-generated data.

The firm was established in January 2026 and has garnered notable support from the UK government’s Sovereign AI Fund, alongside prominent investors such as Sequoia, Lightspeed, Nvidia and EQT. The British Business Bank also participated in this substantial funding effort.

David Silver, who serves as a professor at University College London, is well-known for his leadership in the development of AlphaGo, the pioneering AI system that defeated a world champion in the game of Go. Ineffable Intelligence seeks to advance AI technology by developing a model that learns exclusively through its experiences, distinguishing itself from existing AI models which rely heavily on extensive datasets produced by humans.

Silver articulated his vision, expressing that the aim is to build a superlearner capable of discovering knowledge autonomously, from fundamental motor skills to complex intellectual achievements. He stated that this capability will be driven by the most powerful reinforcement learning algorithms available, with potential applications across multiple sectors.

Moreover, Silver has pledged to donate all profits from his equity in Ineffable Intelligence via the Founders Pledge charity, marking a significant commitment to philanthropy that could yield several billion pounds. This pledge has been noted as the largest in the history of Founders Pledge, showcasing the potential for impactful entrepreneurship in the tech sector.

Ineffable Intelligence reflects a broader trend of leading AI researchers launching their own ventures outside of major technology firms. Tim Rocktäschel, a former DeepMind researcher, and Yann LeCun, previously Meta’s chief AI scientist, have also embarked on similar initiatives, securing substantial investments for their respective projects.

The establishment of the Sovereign AI Fund signals the UK government’s commitment to fostering homegrown AI innovation. Joséphine Kant, head of ventures at the Sovereign AI Unit, emphasised the importance of supporting founders operating at the cutting edge of AI technology.

This investment underscores a strategic intention to transform the UK into a global leader in AI development, ensuring it is not merely a consumer of international technology, but a creator of substantial innovations.