Big Tech AI Talent Exodus Accelerates: $18.8B VC Deployed to AI Startups Founded Since Start of 2025

CNBC·high signal

CNBC reports that VCs have funneled $18.8B into AI startups founded since the start of 2025, on track to surpass the $27.9B raised by companies launched since start of 2024. Key departures include Yann LeCun leaving Meta (AMI Labs, $1B raise), Tim Rocktäschel leaving DeepMind (Recursive Superintelligence, raising up to $1B), and David Silver leaving DeepMind (Ineffable Intelligence, record $1.1B seed). The driving force: commercial pressure at major AI labs limits exploratory research freedom, pushing top researchers to launch their own ventures — creating the AI-native competitors that are now disrupting incumbent SaaS.