This Sequoia-backed lab thinks the brain is 'the floor, not the ceiling' for AI

Flapping Airplanes' founders—Asher Spector, Benjamin, and Aidan Smith—discuss their research-driven AI startup's focus on data-efficient training methods for large language models. They aim to bridge the gap between current AI models trained on vast datasets and the human mind's learning efficiency. The founders emphasize their focus on fundamental research, exploring radically different approaches inspired by the brain's algorithms but not strictly neuromimetic. They believe this focus allows them to explore innovative solutions and potentially unlock new AI applications in data-constrained domains like robotics and scientific discovery. The team also highlights their unique hiring approach, seeking creative individuals, even those with unconventional backgrounds, to challenge existing paradigms in AI research.