Kyutai, a non-profit laboratory dedicated to open research in artificial intelligence (AI), was founded by the iliad Group, the CMA CGM Group, and Schmidt Futures. The three organizations have each contributed $110 million to fund the research lab, which aims to tackle the main challenges of modern AI.

Kyutai has already brought on board a team of researchers with academic and business backgrounds. Its objective is to develop large multimodal models and invent new algorithms to enhance their capacities, reliability, and efficiency. The lab will be located in Paris, France.

Xavier Niel, Chairman and Founder of the iliad Group said that Europe has everything it takes to win the AI race. French researchers are known as being the best in the world. With its advanced computing power and dynamic AI ecosystem, Kyutai will give European researchers access to ultra high-performing, reliable AI models that they can use for their own projects or share with others in the community.

Rodolphe Saadé, President and CEO of the CMA CGM Group added that Kyutai will bring together some of the world’s best experts in AI to address its challenges. He said that this venture is an opportunity for younger generations to benefit from all the opportunities that this technology has to offer.

Patrick Pérez, CEO of Kyutai said that they are building an exceptional research team and immersing themselves in major challenges of modern AI. They look forward to sharing their first results with the community through open research at Kyutai.