San Sebastián, Spain – Quantum software startup Multiverse Computing has just announced a successful fundraising of $215 million in a Series B funding round, with the ambition to tackle one of the biggest challenges of artificial intelligence (AI) today: making large AI models small enough to run directly on smartphones and edge devices without relying on cloud computing.
This investment, led by European investment funds, marks an important step for this Spanish company in its effort to bring AI closer to end users in a more energy-efficient, private, and lower-latency way. In the context of AI models becoming increasingly 'bloated', consuming more resources, the solution that Multiverse is pursuing is not only practical but also opens up a new direction for the technology industry.
From quantum to on-device AI
Founded in the city of San Sebastián, Multiverse Computing is well-known in the field of quantum and classical algorithms for the finance, energy, and manufacturing sectors. Now, the company is expanding into the AI field, aiming to streamline AI models so they can run smoothly on hardware-constrained devices like smartphones, tablets, and even smartwatches.
According to the company, this strategy of 'miniaturizing' AI not only helps reduce operating costs but also enhances user privacy. Processing directly on the device means that data no longer has to be sent far away, thus eliminating the risk of information leaks and significantly reducing latency in tasks such as image recognition, language translation, or virtual assistance.
Towards a decentralized AI ecosystem
With $215 million recently raised, Multiverse plans to accelerate research and development activities, hire more tech talent, and expand cooperation with global mobile device manufacturers. The company expects to create a generation of AI applications capable of operating entirely offline, both saving battery and being safer for users.
While tech giants like OpenAI, Meta, and Google are pouring money into data centers to support massive cloud AI models, Multiverse is choosing a different path – bringing AI back to the end user's device. This is a trend that many experts highly value, especially as the volume of personal data collected by devices continues to grow, raising concerns about privacy.
The global AI race: It's not just hardware
The rise of Multiverse occurs in the context of the global AI race heating up day by day. A notable example is Amazon's $20 billion plan to expand AI infrastructure in Pennsylvania, USA. The e-commerce giant plans to build two large-scale data centers while collaborating with educational institutions and developing local human resources to ensure the workforce can meet the increasing AI demands.
However, unlike Amazon's 'super server' approach, Multiverse is betting on a distributed trend – where personal devices become the center of AI processing. If successful, the company could become a game-changer in the global AI competition, which is currently dominated by huge names from Silicon Valley.