Plural, led by Ian Hogarth, spearheads a significant investment in Oriole Networks.
- Oriole Networks aims to revolutionise generative AI with advanced photonics.
- The startup uses light to enhance AI training speed and energy efficiency.
- Oriole Networks has already raised a substantial total of $35m this year.
- Existing investors include UCL Technology Fund and XTX Ventures.
Plural, the investment group led by UK government AI advisor Ian Hogarth, has made headlines by leading an impressive £17m funding round into Oriole Networks, a promising London-based AI startup. Oriole Networks, which emerged from University College London in 2023, is at the forefront of innovation with a mission to expedite and make generative AI more sustainable through cutting-edge photonics technology.
Oriole Networks employs light-based technology to create powerful networks of AI chips, significantly boosting the speed and efficiency of training large language models (LLMs). The company asserts that its revolutionary approach can potentially enhance the training speed of LLMs by up to 100 times while drastically reducing energy consumption compared to conventional methods. This advancement addresses the substantial energy demands of data centres, which present a critical challenge in the scaling of generative AI technologies.
Ian Hogarth remarked on the transformative potential of photonics in AI infrastructure, leveraging two decades of deep research to innovate better solutions. Hogarth’s background, including his leadership role in the AI Safety Institute, positions him as a pivotal figure in British AI initiatives. His support for Oriole Networks is grounded in their proven track record in bringing deep scientific innovation into commercial viability, significantly impacting the design of next-generation AI systems.
Founded by experts with a strong history in science and technology, Oriole Networks is set to reshape the AI landscape. Its CEO, James Regan, highlighted the market’s urgent need for solutions and the company’s aspiration to establish an ecosystem of photonic networking. This initiative aims to resolve current industry bottlenecks and stimulate competition at the GPU level, fostering a more efficient and sustainable AI environment.
Oriole Networks’ recent funding round saw participation from its previous backers, including UCL Technology Fund, XTX Ventures, Clean Growth Fund, and Dorilton Ventures. This financial boost, adding to the $35m already secured this year, underscores investor confidence in the startup’s potential to lead significant advancements within the AI industry.
The strategic investment led by Ian Hogarth’s Plural positions Oriole Networks to become a key player in the evolution of AI technology.
