A number of leading researchers, including Google’s Chief Scientist Jeff Dean, are preparing to exit the tech giant to jointly establish an AI-focused startup called Discovery Loop, where Dean will assume the role of CEO. The new venture is structured as a public benefit corporation, with a mission to harness AI technology to expedite scientific research, placing special emphasis on AI’s capacity for recursive self-improvement. To date, Discovery Loop has secured backing from entities such as Alphabet, with its initial funding round being co-led by Radical Ventures and Khosla Ventures. Jeff Dean, who became Google’s 30th employee upon joining in 1999, has played a pivotal role in shaping critical projects, including Google’s foundational infrastructure and the development of the Gemini model.