Humans& Startup Reflects Rise of Elite AI Neolabs

Humans& represents a new generation of AI startups formed by experienced researchers from leading technology companies. The startup has drawn attention for its rapid valuation growth and its focus on collaborative artificial intelligence models.

Eric Zelikman, who previously worked as a researcher at xAI, is leading the founding team at Humans&. The team includes individuals with backgrounds at Google, Meta, Anthropic, OpenAI, and DeepMind. The company has positioned itself within a group of AI “neolabs” that have attracted substantial investment soon after their formation.

Humans& has stated to investors that it is developing a new training approach for its AI models. According to information shared with investors, this approach is intended to remember and respond to individual user preferences and requires more computational resources than existing methods. The company emphasizes that its technology is designed to work alongside humans rather than replace them.

Within a few months of its launch, Humans& reached a valuation of approximately $4 billion. The company is now in discussions to secure an additional $1 billion in funding, which would bring its valuation to about $5 billion. These figures place Humans& among the highest-valued early-stage AI startups in the sector.

What the numbers show

• Humans& achieved a valuation of about $4 billion within months of founding
• The company is seeking to raise $1 billion at a $5 billion valuation
• Founders have backgrounds at xAI, Google, Meta, Anthropic, OpenAI, and DeepMind

Humans& is part of a broader trend in the AI industry, where startups led by researchers from established organizations are able to command high valuations. These companies are often referred to as “neolabs” and are characterized by strong technical teams and substantial interest from investors, even when their products are still in early stages.

The company’s stated approach focuses on building AI systems that enhance human productivity through collaboration. According to company materials, Humans& is working on models that adapt to user preferences and require advanced training techniques.

Industry observers have noted that the emergence of such startups reflects a shift in how AI research talent is forming new ventures. The high valuations achieved by these companies, including Humans&, are often based on the founders’ experience and the potential of their proposed technologies.

Humans& continues to develop its technology and pursue additional funding as part of this wider movement among elite AI research teams. The company’s progress is being closely watched as part of the ongoing evolution of the AI startup landscape.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.