Silicon Valley Bank's UK subsidiary agreed terms on a venture debt facility with Humanising Autonomy, a UK-based developer of behaviour and computer vision AI that's bringing context to deep visual automation in mobility — including connected vehicles and traffic sensors — without infringing ethical standards.
Humanising Autonomy has been around for a while. After the startup's launch in 2017, co-founders Maya Pindeus, Leslie Nooteboom and Raunaq Bose had initially wrapped up human behaviour modelling as part of latest automotive driver assistance systems, adding AI predictions of human psychology to baseline sensors like radar and smart cameras.
Knowledge of what makes ADAS tick led to demand in other areas of tech. A product of Imperial College London's Venture Catalyst Challenge, with its computer vision software Humanising Autonomy has capacity to give ethical human-machine context to virtually any connected video feed, from traffic controls to consumer products, video conferencing and health care. But it's mainly staying focused on mobility, along with smart space AI models that slot into our urban built environment.
Bailey Morrow, Silicon Valley's managing director, venture & growth, said: "We are excited to be partnering with Maya and the Humanising Autonomy team on their next phase of growth.”
"This technology is critically important in helping bridge the gap between humans and machines, allowing both to interact and create a safer environment. With continued advancements in AI, we think Humanising Autonomy is well positioned to create an ethical and conscious foundation for the future of behavioural AI.”
Humanising Autonomy raised $11 million of series A funding in late 2021 from Beacon Capital and Emellience Partners, the strategic investment arm of Nihon Unisys Group, among investors.
Maya Pindeus, Humanising Autonomy CEO, adds: "Working with Silicon Valley Bank means we are able to continue valuable work into the deployment of our ethical behaviour AI computer-vision technology across the mobility and smart spaces sectors and to support expansion into new verticals.
"The demand for human-centric technology is at its peak, and we're excited to have the support from Silicon Valley Bank, to scale our work in translating human behavioural context into a language that automated and semi-automated technology can understand so that products and experiences are safer, efficient and more pleasant for people."
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