Former Plaud exec raises $26M for AI app that listens to you in the background
techcrunch ·
Peter Mo, a former executive at Plaud, has raised $26 million for his new startup, Ambi, which develops an AI application designed to listen to users continuously in the background. Led by Luminous Ventures and Huaqin, the funding supports the development of apps for iPhones, Macs, and Apple Watch that act as real-time meeting note-takers and context gatherers. Unlike traditional tools that process data after calls, Ambi’s agent provides proactive suggestions and surfaces relevant knowledge during interactions based on user calendars and web data. The company plans to expand its capabilities with a desktop app that stores work-related information and is developing its own hardware device featuring screens, cameras, and microphones. However, the launch raises significant privacy concerns regarding ambient recording without clear indicators to third parties. While Mo states that data capture is off by default and recordings are not stored, he acknowledges that the industry has yet to solve the problem of disclosing when conversations are being recorded. Currently employing over 50 staff across San Francisco and several Chinese cities, Ambi is actively hiring for engineering and go-to-market roles.
techcrunch