As businesses strive to integrate artificial intelligence into their operations, a critical challenge has emerged: ensuring that generative AI systems have memory and access to continuously updated data. This requirement has led to the development of "Live AI," a field focused on creating AI systems that think and learn dynamically, much like humans. Among the startups tackling this challenge is Pathway, which recently raised $10 million in seed funding to develop real-time AI systems.
Traditional AI models are trained on static datasets, making them limited in adapting to new information or situations. Pathway aims to change this by building infrastructure that allows AI to process both structured and unstructured data in real time. This capability enables enterprise AI platforms to make decisions based on the latest available knowledge.
Pathway’s seed round was led by TQ Ventures, with contributions from Kadmos, Innovo, Market One Capital, and Id4, as well as notable angel investors, including Lukasz Kaiser, a co-author of Transformers and key researcher behind OpenAI’s early GPT models.
The company’s technology is already being used by organizations such as NATO and France's La Poste, showcasing its potential in diverse and complex environments.
Pathway's CEO and co-founder, Zuzanna Stamirowska, highlights the current limitations of large language models (LLMs). "Right now, LLMs act like a smart intern on their first day—able to process information but lacking memory or live learning capabilities," she explained. To address this, Pathway’s platform allows developers to feed live data into AI systems, enhancing their ability to learn and adapt on the fly.
Stamirowska is supported by an accomplished team, including co-founders Adrian Kosowski (CSO) and Jan Chorowski (CTO), who have previously collaborated with AI pioneer Geoff Hinton. Stamirowska herself is recognized for her work on advanced forecasting models in maritime trade, published by the U.S. Academy of Sciences.
In the competitive landscape of generative AI and enterprise solutions, Pathway often encounters established names like Palantir for AI transformation projects. However, Pathway differentiates itself with a more product-focused approach. It also stands alongside startups like Cohere and Writer, which are making strides in generative AI engineering and knowledge management.
Investors have expressed strong confidence in Pathway's potential. Schuster Tanger, co-managing partner at TQ Ventures, emphasized the startup's groundbreaking insights and the positive reception from the developer community.
With this funding, Pathway aims to refine its infrastructure and expand its applications in real-time AI. The startup’s approach could redefine how businesses deploy AI, enabling systems that learn and adapt continuously, setting a new standard for enterprise AI solutions.
