Ashton Kutcher's Sound Ventures Bets Big on AI, Eyes New Innovations in 3D and Hardware

At TechCrunch Disrupt 2024, Ashton Kutcher's venture capital firm, Sound Ventures, confirmed its latest investments in artificial intelligence, including funding for World Labs, the company led by renowned AI expert and Stanford professor Fei-Fei Li. Co-led by general partners Guy Oseary and Effie Epstein, Sound Ventures is doubling down on AI's potential, contributing to World Labs' recent valuation of over $1 billion. The startup aims to develop advanced “large world models” capable of navigating and interacting within 3D spaces, with plans to target the gaming and film industries.

Sound Ventures’ $265 million AI fund, established last year, has invested in prominent AI companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Stability AI. Notably, Kutcher disclosed that they haven’t sold any of their OpenAI shares, underscoring long-term confidence in the sector.

Epstein highlighted Sound Ventures’ interest in startups exploring AI-driven hardware and alternative form factors, noting that their recent investment in Rabbit, an AI hardware startup, centers on a “Large Action Model” approach. She suggested that such innovations might eventually rival giants like Apple by creating technology that can learn user preferences and make decisions on their behalf.

Sound Ventures has also expressed interest in Jony Ive’s collaboration with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on a new AI device. Although discussions are ongoing, Kutcher hinted that breakthroughs from these ventures could profoundly reshape the industry.