As reported by Business Insider, a group of ex-Google X employees has launched a stealth AI startup called TwinMind. The innovative AI assistant is designed to operate in the background of smartphones, always listening and learning. Its capabilities have drawn comparisons to Jarvis, the AI system from Marvel’s Iron Man series, known for its constant data capture and adaptive intelligence.
Daniel George, Founder and CEO of TwinMind, revealed that the company has raised over $2.5 million through multiple funding rounds this year, bringing its valuation to $30 million. The funding attracted prominent backers, including Oracle’s Chief Scientist Dan Roth, Rocketship VC founding partner Anand Rajaraman, and Michael Liou, an early investor in Robinhood and Zapier.
George, in a conversation with Business Insider, emphasized that TwinMind differentiates itself in a crowded AI chatbot market by its ability to learn and retain information about users. He noted that while OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini are improving in terms of memory capabilities, they are not yet particularly adept in this area.
“If you had your own Jarvis, why would you Google? Why would you ask ChatGPT?” said George to Business Insider. “None of these other tools capture you. None of them understand you. They don’t understand what’s happening in your life.”
Explaining the app’s functionality, George described how TwinMind runs in the background of a smartphone, continuously listening to audio, transcribing it into text, and storing it in a memory bank. Users can access the app at any time to view a detailed readout of their day or ask questions about their activities. The app can provide insights about the user’s interactions and the people they spent time with throughout the day.
The company also announced plans to introduce a web browser extension that allows users to permit the collection of online activity data, such as browsing history, which is then stored in TwinMind’s memory for future reference.
TwinMind integrates with calendars and Gmail, enabling users to draft emails. While similar features are offered by other AI tools, George argued that TwinMind’s edge lies in its memory capabilities, which allow it to retain contextual details about users. He compared TwinMind’s functionality to Grammarly, highlighting how it goes a step further by personalizing outputs based on user history.
“You just go in there and, say, write your marketing email. And it knows everything about me, who my co-founders are, what my company is, what we have done before,” said George. “Imagine Grammarly, but instead of correcting grammar, it actually writes it based on all the memories and context.”
According to the company, most of TwinMind’s processing occurs locally on the user’s phone, with cloud connectivity utilized only for complex queries or enhanced outputs. The app is available in a free version, with a premium tier priced at $20 per month for users seeking access to more advanced large language models.
Editor’s Note
A group of ex-Google X engineers, known for their work in the tech giant’s semi-secret moonshot division, has launched TwinMind, an ambitious AI solution. Google X, often associated with cutting-edge innovations, is reportedly developing a classified augmented reality device designed to enhance human hearing capabilities. With such a pedigree, the TwinMind team is well-positioned to craft AI solutions that could pose a serious challenge to established players like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
However, OpenAI and Google continue to dominate the AI landscape with unparalleled technological expertise and deep market penetration. While TwinMind’s unique memory feature sets it apart, industry leaders possess the resources and agility to integrate similar capabilities swiftly, reinforcing their stronghold in the sector.
