Yann LeCun’s AMI Labs Raises $1.03B to Build World Models

Yann LeCun’s new startup, AMI Labs, has quickly become one of the most closely watched AI ventures of 2026 after raising an enormous $1.03 billion seed round at a $3.5 billion pre-money valuation. Based in Paris, the company, whose full name is Advanced Machine Intelligence, is pursuing a very different direction from the large language model boom that has defined much of the current AI industry. Rather than concentrating on systems trained mainly on text, AMI Labs wants to build “world models,” AI systems that learn from real-world data and develop the ability to reason, plan, remember, and operate more reliably in complex environments.

The company reflects LeCun’s long-standing criticism of current large language models. While LLMs have shown impressive abilities in generating and understanding language, LeCun argues that they still fall short when it comes to human-like reasoning, autonomy, and common sense. AMI’s philosophy is based on the idea that intelligence does not begin in language, but in the world itself. That means training AI on reality, including data captured through cameras and other sensors, instead of relying mostly on next-word or next-pixel prediction. According to the company, this approach could produce systems that are more controllable, safer, and better able to understand the consequences of their actions before making decisions.

This makes AMI Labs a long-term scientific bet rather than a typical fast-moving AI startup. CEO Alexandre LeBrun has emphasized that the company is starting with fundamental research, including work based on LeCun’s Joint Embedding Predictive Architecture, or JEPA, which he first proposed in 2022. LeBrun has openly said that it may take years before the company’s research turns into commercially viable products. Still, investor enthusiasm was strong enough that the final raise far exceeded earlier reports suggesting the startup was aiming for about €500 million.

AMI Labs has also drawn attention because of its leadership team. In addition to LeCun as chairman and LeBrun as CEO, the company includes former Meta executive Laurent Solly as COO, Saining Xie as chief science officer, Pascale Fung as chief research and innovation officer, and Michael Rabbat as vice president of world models. The startup plans to build its team across Paris, New York, Montreal, and Singapore, giving it access to talent and helping it stay close to future partners and clients in multiple global markets.

Its investor list is equally impressive. The round was co-led by Cathay Innovation, Greycroft, Hiro Capital, HV Capital, and Bezos Expeditions. Other backers include Nvidia, Samsung, Sea, Temasek, Toyota Ventures, and several major French investors, along with individuals such as Tim and Rosemary Berners-Lee, Jim Breyer, Mark Cuban, Xavier Niel, and Eric Schmidt. That wide range of support suggests confidence not only in LeCun’s track record, but also in the belief that world models could become a major new frontier in AI.

AMI Labs sees early opportunities in fields that rely on complex systems, including healthcare, manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, biomedical research, and pharmaceuticals. Nabla, the digital health startup chaired by LeBrun, is the first publicly disclosed partner expected to use AMI’s early models. Over time, LeCun says the technology could also support consumer products such as domestic robots and even smart glasses, with Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses mentioned as one possible shorter-term application.

Even while pursuing future commercial uses, AMI Labs says it plans to publish research papers and release code as open source. In an increasingly closed AI landscape, that commitment stands out. With billion-dollar funding, a prominent team, and an ambitious research agenda, AMI Labs is positioning itself as more than just another startup. It is trying to shape a new vision of how advanced AI should be built.

Works Cited

Heim, Anna. “Yann LeCun’s AMI Labs Raises $1.03B to Build World Models.” TechCrunch, 9 Mar. 2026, www.techcrunch.com/2026/03/09/yann-lecuns-ami-labs-raises-1-03-billion-to-build-world-models/. 

Hope, Graham. “French AI Startup Building World Models Raises $1.03 Billion.” AI Business, 10 Mar. 2026, www.aibusiness.com/generative-ai/french-ai-startup-building-world-models-raises-1-03-billion. 

Paul, Katie, and Anhata Rooprai. “Ex-Meta AI Chief Yann LeCun’s AMI Raises US$1.03 Billion for Alternative AI Approach.” Reuters, 10 Mar. 2026, www.bnnbloomberg.ca/business/company-news/2026/03/10/ex-meta-ai-chief-yann-lecuns-ami-raises-us103-billion-for-alternative-ai-approach/. 

“Yann LeCun’s AI Start-up Raises More Than $1bn in Europe’s Largest Seed Round.” Financial Times, www.ft.com/content/23fab126-f1d3-4add-a457-207a25730ad9. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.   

Smith, Dave. “AI Whiz Yann LeCun Is Already Targeting a $3.5 Billion Valuation for His New Startup and It Hasn’t Even Launched Yet.” Fortune, 19 Dec. 2025, fortune.com/2025/12/19/yann-lecun-ami-labs-ai-startup-valuation-meta-departure/.