"We're exploring a different set of tradeoffs."

TechCrunch (TC) is a leading technology news and media site that covers the latest trends, startups, and innovations in the tech industry. With breaking news,  analysis, and expert commentary, TechCrunch provides  insights into the world of technology and entrepreneurship. Developers can learn about emerging technologies, funding opportunities, and market trends by following TechCrunch's coverage of the tech industry.

TechCrunch

Flapping Airplanes, a new AI research lab with $180M in seed funding, is pursuing radically different approaches to AI by focusing on data efficiency. The three young co-founders explain their brain-inspired but not brain-constrained philosophy: building models that can learn with far less data than current transformers require. They're betting that 1000x improvements in data efficiency will unlock new capabilities in robotics, scientific discovery, and enterprise applications. Unlike scale-focused labs, they prioritize creative research over immediate commercialization, hiring young talent for fresh perspectives on fundamental AI problems.

Flapping Airplanes on the future of AI: ‘We want to try really radically different things’

TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026: Tickets Live