Plural, led by Ian Hogarth, has spearheaded a significant investment into Oriole Networks, a burgeoning AI startup in London.
- Oriole Networks utilises photonics technology to enhance the speed and sustainability of generative AI.
- The startup has successfully raised a total of $35 million this year, with $22 million secured in the latest funding round led by Plural.
- This innovative approach aims to train large language models up to 100 times faster while drastically reducing energy consumption.
- Ian Hogarth emphasises the transformative potential of Oriole’s technology for future AI infrastructure.
Plural, under the leadership of Ian Hogarth, has overseen a substantial investment in Oriole Networks, a promising AI venture based in London. This recent funding round has brought in $22 million (£16.9 million) for the company, pushing its total fundraising to $35 million in the current year. The strategic investment highlights Plural’s commitment to nurturing advanced technological solutions.
Oriole Networks, born from University College London, is pioneering the use of photonics technology to significantly enhance the efficiency and sustainability of generative AI processes. By leveraging this cutting-edge technology, Oriole Networks claims it can facilitate the training of large language models at a speed up to 100 times faster than traditional methods, while utilising only a fraction of the usual energy consumption.
This ambitious initiative directly addresses one of the most pressing challenges in the field of artificial intelligence: the high energy consumption of data centres required for training and deploying large language models. With its innovative approach, Oriole Networks seeks to revolutionise the AI sector by reducing latency and energy impact, thus offering a more sustainable alternative.
Ian Hogarth, an influential figure in the UK’s AI landscape and government advisor, has expressed confidence in Oriole Networks’ potential. According to Hogarth, applying decades of photonics research to AI development signifies a new era of innovation, promising extensive benefits and advancements.
Oriole Networks’ CEO, James Regan, further elaborates on the company’s vision, stating that the focus is on creating a comprehensive photonic networking ecosystem aimed at addressing current industry bottlenecks. This solution is poised to enhance competition at the GPU level, paving the way for increased efficiency and capacity.
The latest investment round also saw participation from existing investors such as UCL Technology Fund, XTX Ventures, Clean Growth Fund, and Dorilton Ventures. This collaborative effort underscores the shared confidence among investors in Oriole Networks’ groundbreaking technology and its potential to reshape the AI landscape.
The strategic investment into Oriole Networks marks a pivotal step in advancing more efficient and sustainable AI technologies.
