News Summary

Sesame, a conversational AI startup founded by former Oculus co-founders, has successfully raised $250 million in a Series B funding round. The company, led by Brendan Iribe and Ankit Kumar, is focused on developing a personal AI agent that communicates with users using natural, human-like speech. This AI technology will be integrated into smart glasses designed for daily use, allowing users to interact through voice commands. The startup, having emerged from stealth earlier this year, has already seen significant engagement with its AI voices, ‘Maya’ and ‘Miles’, which have been accessed by over a million users, generating substantial conversational interaction. The funding round included investment from Sequoia and Spark, among others. Additionally, Sesame has opened a beta for its iOS app, offering select testers an opportunity to experience and interact with the AI technology, while maintaining confidentiality on their testing experiences.