Human.org Secures $7.3 Million to Align AI with Human Values

San Francisco-based startup Human.org has announced a substantial $7.3 million pre-seed funding round, aimed at advancing their mission to align AI with human values through innovative safety tools and blockchain technology.

Investment Highlights

• Human.org has raised $7.3 million for safety tools to align AI with human values.
• The startup uses blockchain to verify identities and distinguish humans from AI agents.
• Lead investors include HF0, Soma Capital, Spearhead, and Pioneer Fund.

Mission and Vision

Founded by 23-year-old CEO Kirill Avery, Human.org operates as an AI safety lab dedicated to building “trust infrastructure” to ensure AI is accountable. Avery recognizes the urgency of addressing AI-generated content, which is becoming increasingly difficult to differentiate from human-generated content.

Avery emphasizes, “We’re two and a half years into AI-generated content, and it’s becoming impossible to differentiate which content has been created by humans and which is not — but this is just the beginning.” He stresses the importance of preserving human expression and ensuring AI remains in line with human intentions.

Understanding AI Alignment

AI alignment is a critical field that aims to ensure an AI’s actions are consistent with human values. As AI continues to evolve, the potential risks associated with AI systems diverging from human interests grow. Major players in the AI industry are racing to develop high-performing models, but these advancements bring concerns about AI’s alignment with humanity’s ethical standards.

Key Products

Human.org is developing two core products to tackle these challenges. The Human Network platform, powered by blockchain, serves as an infrastructure layer for interactions between humans and verified AI agents. By providing a secure and transparent system, Human Network ensures accountability and trust in AI-driven interactions.

The Agent ID protocol is designed to assign accountability to AI agents, enabling users to trace actions back to their human creators. Since it operates on a blockchain, the Agent ID protocol is decentralized and accessible to the public, eliminating single points of control.

Human.org’s Human App offers a practical solution for verifying human identity in digital spaces. The application enables users to manage their identities and track interactions with AI agents, serving as a digital passport for both humans and AI systems.

Avery explains, “Signing in with Human ID is the essential part of knowing if this is a human or an agent you’re talking to, as a new form of ‘captcha’. The Human App is a place to manage your identity and all of your agent logs.”

Funding and Future Plans

The $7.3 million pre-seed round was led by prominent investors such as HF0, Soma Capital, Spearhead, Pioneer Fund, Hummingbird VC, and Brett Gibson, a general partner at Initialized Capital. These investors recognize the potential of Human.org’s innovative approach to AI safety and blockchain technology.

With the new funding, Human.org plans to continue its deep tech research, focusing on advancing its AI safety tools and blockchain-based identity verification systems. The startup aims to build a robust trust infrastructure that ensures AI systems remain aligned with human values, preserving human expression in an increasingly AI-driven world.

As technology evolves, Human.org’s solutions represent a crucial step in managing the ethical and practical challenges associated with autonomous agents. By prioritizing accountability and transparency, the startup is setting the stage for a more reliable and trustworthy AI landscape.

Conclusion

The AI revolution is well underway, and the ethical implications of this technology are becoming increasingly apparent. Human.org’s innovative approach to aligning AI with human values, powered by blockchain technology, represents a promising solution to these challenges. As the startup continues to develop its safety tools and identity verification systems, it paves the way for a more accountable and trustworthy AI future.

With the support of significant investors and a dedicated team, Human.org is poised to make a substantial impact in the field of AI safety. As the technology landscape continues to evolve, solutions like Human.org’s will play a vital role in ensuring that AI systems remain aligned with human intentions.

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