A 24-year-old Stanford dropout has attracted top talent from Meta’s AI research teams to her startup, Axiom Math, which aims to develop an AI mathematician. Founded in March by Carina Hong, a Rhodes Scholar who left her graduate studies, Axiom recently announced a $64 million seed funding round in September, showcasing the potential of advanced mathematical problem-solving in AI.
The company, which employs 17 people, has recruited heavily from Meta’s Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Research (FAIR) lab and its GenAI team, as well as from Google Brain, which merged into DeepMind in 2023. Axiom Math is focused on complex mathematical challenges that are seen as critical to achieving superintelligence in AI systems. Hong stated that this ambitious mission has been instrumental in drawing top researchers from larger tech firms.
“One thing I heard from some of the top researchers and mathematicians I’ve recruited to Axiom is that solving for mathematical superintelligence will be their legacy,” Hong told Business Insider. “When the problem is hard enough, talent density gets very high, and that makes you a magnet for other great thinkers.”
Hong specifically targeted researchers at FAIR because of their reputation for delivering exceptional work. FAIR, one of Meta’s oldest AI research arms, has faced challenges recently, including layoffs in October and the departure of its chief scientist, Yann LeCun, who left to create his own AI venture.
Among Axiom Math’s notable hires are Shubho Sengupta, the company’s first recruit and current CTO, whom Hong met serendipitously at a coffee shop, alongside Francois Charton, Aram Markosyan, and Hugh Leather. Despite competitive retention packages offered by Meta, Hong noted that she was unaware of specific counteroffers, citing the potential long-term benefits of joining Axiom as a key factor in attracting talent.
The allure of Axiom’s mission has captivated its new recruits from day one, despite the company’s humble beginnings, which included furniture sourced from a plastic folding table and a friend’s spare couch. Hong has also expanded her recruiting efforts beyond major tech companies, enlisting her former professor, renowned mathematician Ken Ono, who aligns with Axiom’s innovative vision.
Hong views age and experience as “sort of manmade concepts” and emphasizes a “non-hierarchical” culture at Axiom, fostering collaboration among its researchers, regardless of their backgrounds. The company’s vision extends beyond mathematical theory; its applications could span various fields where provably correct reasoning is essential, including hardware and software verification, quantitative finance, and cryptography.
Axiom Math’s focus on solving **Erdos** problems, which have perplexed mathematicians for decades, underscores its commitment to groundbreaking research. The company’s recent achievement in addressing two of these complex problems highlights its capability and ambition within the AI landscape. As Hong remarks, the mathematical challenges posed by the startup not only attract top talent but also aim to redefine the boundaries of what is achievable through AI.
With significant financial backing and a growing team of distinguished researchers, Axiom Math is poised to make considerable strides in the field of AI mathematics. The implications of its work may reach far and wide, potentially reshaping how AI interacts with complex problem-solving across various domains. As the startup develops, the industry will be watching closely to see how its innovations contribute to the broader pursuit of AI superintelligence.
See also
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