Safeworld, a startup focused on safety for generative AI-powered robots, has emerged from stealth with a seed round exceeding $12 million. The funding was led by Shine Capital and a16z Speedrun, with participation from Box Group, Carnegie Mellon University Endowment, Innovation Endeavors, and SV Angel.
The company was founded by Dr. Ding Zhao, director of the Safe AI lab at Carnegie Mellon University, alongside Kyle Wong and Simo Rachidi. Safeworld aims to address the unpredictability of generative AI models in robotics by providing third-party safety validation for robot control systems.
The platform evaluates robotic systems by running thousands of simulations in environments populated with realistic human models. These simulations test how robots respond to unpredictable human behaviors, such as tripping, falling, or moving in blind corners, within unstructured industrial settings.
Gritt Robotics, which develops AI for construction robots, is already partnering with Safeworld to empirically verify the safety of its systems. Safeworld is currently exploring business models, including a software platform for external users or a service-based approach, to establish industry safety standards.
