For the first half century of the computer revolution, machines have changed our lives in a dramatic way, by doing surprisingly simple things such as helping us humans to be more organized (e.g., what ERP did to running a business) and to better share information that still we, humans, create (what Microsoft Office did to business communication and what Facebook did to personal relationships). And yes, a lot of lower-level automation occurred, too (where would the movie industry and the experience of watching a movie be without CGI?).
But for a long time, we have held a belief that computers will not be able to perform higher level cognitive tasks. That our mammalian brain was somehow much superior to their silicon brain.
Turns out it was mostly a question of processors’ price/performance, and of reaching a critical mass of available data. Now, with algorithms first developed 50+ years ago (Neural-Networks History) cheaper/faster computers with access to a lot more data surprise us every day by getting better and better at the human-like cognitive skills of sensing, perception, categorization, and decision making.
We are at the beginning of a new era in computing, where engineers give machines higher and higher cognitive capabilities. Those machines will change our lives in even more dramatic ways by doing more complicated things, on their own; autonomously without humans slowing them down, free from human biases and errors.
It is simultaneously a very scary time and a very exciting time. At CRV we are excited to explore how progress in autonomy creates change and opportunities in medicine, commerce, transportation, entertainment, education, defense, etc. We are interested in the whole stack from sensors, to new AI software, to platforms in the physical world (AV, drones, robots), and the new businesses created around those capabilities.
Check out some of our early bets: Airobotics, Voyage, Rethink Robotics, Jibo, and Wonder Workshop
We would love to hear from you about new opportunities in the field!
*Thinking Machines was famously Danny Hillis’ startup, a Boston based 1983 pioneer in AI and supercomputers https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thinking_Machines_Corporation
