AI-powered visual moderation company Unitary AI has raised $15 million in Series A funding led by European venture capital firm Creandum with participation from Paladin Capital Group and Plural. Unitary says the funds will help double the team’s size, triple the number of daily videos and launch multiple languages.
Since the company’s inception, Unitary’s core mission has been to create AI solutions aimed at enhancing digital security for businesses. Since 2019, the team has dedicated its efforts to developing AI technology that possesses the ability to comprehend video content just like humans.
By simultaneously analysing various signals, Unitary’s machine learning technology can decipher the content within videos and images while also grasping the contextual surroundings in which they are found. The company also believes that this capability will prove to be essential as platforms adjust to evolving regulations such as the UK’s Online Safety Bill and the EU’s Digital Services Act.
A safe online experience with AI
Sasha Haco, CEO of Unitary says, “Our vision is for ethical, empathetic AI to enhance how visual content is experienced online. We’ve always focused on how we might be able to use AI to ensure a safer online experience and keep up with the pace of internet content. This funding enables us to stay at the forefront of video understanding research and fulfil our mission of making the internet better.”
Fueled by intricate video content, constituting 80% of internet traffic, the volume of online information is projected to surge tenfold from 2020 to 2025, said Unitary. Recognising that this challenge surpasses the capabilities of human reviewers alone, the Cambridge-based FinTech has created a machine learning solution to aid platforms in navigating nuance by, “Analysing combinations of visual, aural, and textual content.”
“AI is a powerful tool, and in many ways a double-edged sword. In this new online world, dominated by daily technological breakthroughs and bad actors who are always one step ahead, we need AI to manage AI,” the company wrote. “We firmly believe that, when used responsibly, AI can yield truly impactful results, and we hold deep appreciation for our investors and partners who share Unitary’s mission.”
To accelerate these efforts, Unitary intends to utilise its newly secured funding to strengthen its research and development endeavours and establish substantial collaborations with top-tier social platforms and organisations focused on brand safety.
Isa Muhammad is a writer and video game journalist covering many aspects of entertainment media including the film industry. He's steadily writing his way to the sharp end of journalism and enjoys staying informed. If he's not reading, playing video games or catching up on his favourite TV series, then he's probably writing about them.
