– Altera raised $9 million in a seed round led by First Spark Ventures and Patron
– The company is developing AI agents with social-emotional intelligence to interact with players in games like Minecraft
– Altera plans to expand beyond Minecraft and integrate their technology into additional video games and digital experiences
Altera is a startup that is creating AI agents for gaming, starting with Minecraft. They have raised $9 million in funding and are focused on developing AI agents with social-emotional intelligence that can interact with players and make decisions in-game. The company is led by Robert Yang, a neuroscientist, and former assistant professor at MIT, who wants to redefine what AI is capable of by creating digital human beings.
The AI agents created by Altera are designed to be companions for gamers, capable of playing Minecraft like humans by performing a variety of tasks. These agents can make their own decisions, making the game more entertaining or frustrating depending on the player’s style. Altera is currently testing the model with 750 Minecraft players and plans to launch later in the summer, with a free desktop app available for download.
While Altera’s focus is currently on gaming, the company plans to expand into additional video games and other digital experiences in the future. The AI agents can play any game without customization and will be integrated with game engine SDKs for broader developer use. With support from high-profile investors, including First Spark Ventures and Patron, Altera aims to create AI companions that engage in all areas of life with empathy, embodiment, and personal goals in order to form real, lasting connections with people.