Figure AI's CEO just raised $700 million for his next big bet

Hark, an innovative AI lab based in San Jose, has successfully raised $700 million in funding, achieving a remarkable valuation of $6 billion. This significant investment was spearheaded by Parkway Venture Capital, with contributions from industry giants such as Nvidia, AMD Ventures, and Salesforce Ventures. The startup, co-founded by Brett Adcock, aims to create personalized AI systems and hardware that can engage with users in a more natural manner, extending beyond mere text interactions. In a statement, Adcock expressed his vision: "We’re building the AI that everyone deserves, but no one has built yet — one that actually knows you, speaks your language, is highly personalized, and lives on hardware made for you. This funding will help us deliver that to people quickly and at scale." Although Hark has kept details of its developments under wraps, the company has announced plans to launch its AI models later this summer, promising early access to its personal AI platform for users. However, a specific date for the release of their hardware devices remains undisclosed. Hark is entering a competitive landscape, with numerous tech leaders pursuing similar advancements. OpenAI is collaborating with renowned designer Jony Ive on a series of AI devices, while heavyweights like Apple, Google, and Meta are also focused on developing AI-centric gadgets. To bolster its team, Hark has recruited notable talents, including Abidur Chowdhury, an Apple veteran known for his work on the iPhone Air. Additionally, the startup has attracted hardware and AI engineers from prominent companies such as Google, Meta, and Amazon. Brett Adcock, who founded Hark late last year with an initial investment of $100 million of his own funds, already has a significant presence in the tech industry. He is also the founder of Archer Aviation, a company specializing in electric aircraft, and holds an estimated net worth of nearly $20 billion, according to Forbes. Adcock has indicated that the AI agents developed at Hark will play a crucial role in enhancing the capabilities of Figure's humanoid robots, which are already utilizing some of the company's models.