Long-time Google DeepMind researcher David Silver has left the company to establish his own AI startup, Ineffable Intelligence, based in London. Silver, a key figure in DeepMind's breakthroughs like AlphaGo, is seeking venture capital funding and actively recruiting AI researchers. His departure signals a push toward developing superintelligence, an area attracting significant interest and investment.

Silver's focus on reinforcement learning sets him apart. He believes this method is essential for creating AI that surpasses human knowledge. He aims to build an "endlessly learning superintelligence" that can discover the foundations of all knowledge. This approach contrasts with current language models, which rely heavily on existing human data and preferences.

Silver's move reflects a broader trend of AI experts leaving established labs to pursue ambitious goals in the field. OpenAI's former chief scientist, Ilya Sutskever, founded Safe Superintelligence (SSI). Several of Silver’s colleagues from AlphaGo also launched Reflection AI. This indicates a growing focus on AI beyond current capabilities.

Why does this matter? The race to achieve superintelligence is heating up, with significant funding and talent flowing into the pursuit. Success in this area could revolutionize numerous industries. Investors should watch for further developments from Ineffable Intelligence and other startups focused on advanced AI.