AI copilots have gained immense popularity, and their utility has come into question. With the generative AI boom celebrating its first-year anniversary, companies like Microsoft and iCIMS have introduced copilots. However, how useful, reliable, and helpful will they be for end-users? Layer, a startup based in Columbus, Ohio, aims to help enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), integrate copilots into their software seamlessly. The goal is to create copilots that are so exceptional that end-users cannot imagine life without them.
Layer focuses on ensuring reliability and minimizing AI hallucinations, which occur when the program generates inaccurate, harmful, or unwanted information. The startup recently announced a $3 million seed round led by Drive Capital, with participation from Resolute Ventures, Detroit Venture Partners, Alumni Ventures, Expansion Venture Capital, and other funds and angel investors. The copilot acts as a personal assistant for end-users, allowing them to interact with a platform effortlessly. They can simply provide instructions in plain English, and the copilot will execute those tasks without requiring the user to click or drag buttons.
Challenges in Building Reliable Copilots
One of the key challenges in building copilots is the reliability of large language models (LLMs) that often generate inaccurate responses. Integrating LLMs directly into software products can lead to undesirable situations. Biased responses, exhibiting sexism or racism, or inaccurate answers and tasks pose obstacles to enterprises looking to leverage generative AI.
Layer tackles this challenge by implementing a system that utilizes a client’s software documentation to establish a framework for the copilot’s actions. The AI copilot building platform analyzes the documentation and validates the paths it generates against the client’s software documentation. If a path is deemed invalid, the copilot either generates a new path or follows a fallback procedure specified by the developer. This ensures that the copilot adheres to the predefined ruleset and operates within the designated boundaries set by the client’s software.
Expanding the Scope of AI Copilot Adoption
Initially targeting the financial services sector as its customer base, Layer envisions a future where nearly every SME can benefit from its LLM copilot infrastructure. The technology being developed by Layer can be applied across various platforms, making it applicable to any company with a software platform. In the long run, Layer’s goal is to democratize copilot technology, enabling companies to build their own copilots and transform the way users interact with software.
Jonah Katz, the co-founder and CEO of Layer, draws inspiration from personal experiences. Using a business leads organization platform, he found himself spending hours on repetitive and tedious tasks that could potentially be automated with an intelligent tool like Layer’s copilots. With a copilot, users can simply issue natural language queries or instructions, and the copilot will execute complex workflows effortlessly, greatly improving productivity and user experience.
With the recent seed round funding, Layer is set to expand its team and further develop its platform. This Midwest-based AI startup aims to revolutionize user experience by building AI copilots that empower users and enhance their efficiency in utilizing software.
