Google targets AI startup Mechanize’s technology and talent in proposed $1.5B deal
Google LLC is reportedly in discussions with an artificial intelligence coding startup called Mechanize Inc. over a deal that would see it license some of its technology and hire a number of its most talented employees. Business Insider was the first to report the discussions, citing information from four people familiar with the conversations.
Mechanize was founded last year, saying that its overriding goal is to eventually create AI systems that can automate the work done by every single knowledge worker in the world. It’s currently focused on developing simulated virtual environments, evaluation benchmarks and specialized grading systems that can be used to test and train AI agents on various kinds of business tasks.
Earlier this year, the startup announced it had raised $9.1 million in funding from investors including former GitHub Chief Executive Nat Friedman, Stripe CEO Patrick Collison and the podcaster Dwarkesh Patel. Its CEO Tame Bisoglu is notable for having previously co-founded the AI research outfit Epoch Artificial Intelligence Inc. Business Insider said Google is currently discussing a sum of around $1.5 billion to strike a non-exclusive licensing agreement for Mechanize’s technology. As part of that deal, it would also hire some of Mechanize’s experts in model evaluation and development, the sources said.
