Exclusive: Funding for AI-powered startup Orby just reached $4.5 million with investors NEA and Pear VC leading a seed round. Orby is an AI assistant that can watch and learn from a user’s work habits and make suggestions on how to automate tedious tasks in the workplace. This is just the latest venture into AI startups seeking to find ways to streamline the work process with AI.
Orby was founded last summer by Bella Liu and Will Lu, who both had experience in the development and production of AI technology. The concept surrounding the AI is that all ‘Orby’s’ will be personalized to each individual user, observing their work habits and identifying the best ways to improve their workflow. For example, if a procurement professional has to maintain vendor records, the AI identifies any repetitive tasks that can be automated and shortened.
The co-founders have an ambitious vision for what the AI can do and believe that it has the potential to drastically change how humans interact with computers, creating a true partnership. They imagine a future where the Orby has become so essential to a person’s job that it even gets a mention on their resume.
Orby is currently in its beta testing stage, with the product being downloaded by around a hundred customers, but it is easy to see the potential of the AI and the future will tell what impact it can make for companies in the workplace. Beyond this, it is also a great example of the latest AI startups and the new ways they are seeking to perfect the use of artificial intelligence in everyday tasks.
