Nobody drive star company " sudden death " rear, investment bubble moves toward burst

Author | Ma Cheng edits | Luo Lijuan

Right unmanned vehicle returns not formal start off, once star poineering company already one ground chicken feather.

Afterwards this year in January, roadstar.ai group two author, CEO Tong Xianqiao and CTO are measured together discharge another author -- after chief scientist Zhouguang, the group explodes in succession again give divert financing money to do cash to lend the issue such as investment. End before the report, roadstar.ai is located in the office of Shenzhen to already did not have one person for nothing, the company enters dish of phase clear.

Incident has not ended, 3 author are eager to coming off however the relation with Roadstar.ai. Tong Xianqiao already arranged new project in the United States a few days ago, intercurrent friend group is liberal announce, "I had broken up piece. " measure also had left a company.

The graph shows tall friend to encircle cut to pursue for former CEO Tong

Learn solely according to round-the-clock science and technology, "By discharge " the core staff that Zhou Guang summonned a batch of former Roadstar.ai, founded new nobody drive project, according to insider introduction, this project has obtained brushstroke financing at present.

And across, the investor of Roadstar.ai does not have method to break up however piece. Because involve financing abuse, a annulus investor has risen to tell author the court jointly. Past a week, include double lake capital, Yun Qi to achieve the A that casts inside capital, greatly annulus investor, be in all the time work overtime negotiate countermeasure, outside planning to be opposite, open incident makes progress.

"Incident drag in arrives with all possible means interest, any one party cannot disclose particular case. " a personage of know the inside story of double lake capital discloses to round-the-clock science and technology.

In recent years, capital to AI (artificial intelligence) add enthusiasticly only do not decrease. CVSource data shows, artificial intelligence achieves incident of financing of look forward to to have 130 cases first quarter only to 2018 from 21 of 2013. Financing forehead by 1.5 billion growth went to annual financing 2013 33.8 billion yuan of 2017, 2018 only financing amount already exceeded 2017 annual first quarter, achieve 40.2 billion yuan. And the amount 2017, 70% what had held total of financing of poineering company of global artificial intelligence. Of a large number of capital swarm into, drive up AI alone the appraise value of horny animal.

Because capital is eager to reaping technical qualified personnel, most unit process of cargo bandling appears too brash. "Hear a lot of investment need to have the doctoral group of experience of big plant work only, have a Demo (example) , wait to do not have a requirement to patent, paper. " brothers capital is virgin copartner Yao hypo expresses to round-the-clock science and technology.

Upsurge backside, bubble is shown subsequently.

Go one year for example big popular nobody drive domain, mere one time situation, many companies begin to exeunt. Because intellectual property dispute is exited,be Wang Jin of author of Jing Chi science and technology first, the company is forced because of equity contention again incognito; Virgin group all exits the Drive.ai that Wu Enda becomes a shareholder, the company is being sought at present buy; Roadstar.ai nowadays also fall to pieces.

Li Kaifu of innovation workshop author is in earlier before say, "AI is the business of 2B, cannot count on the speed of 2C, careful bubble was about to come. " nowadays, not only bubble came, also want to begin burst it seems that.

Be in a year many before, tong Xianqiao, measure, the poineering group that 3 doctors form Zhou Guang or a team of the dream that gets investor attention quite.

In the conduct propaganda that investing Fang Yunqi capital, double lake capital, 3 " the celebrity inside course of study " all come from Baidu " center of American research and development " , part to wait for nobody to drive in NAVIDIA, Gu Ge, apple, tesla before this the group holds a post. In 3 people, tong Xianqiao assiduously studies nobody to drive with respect to the choice 8 years ago professional doctor; "Learn a god " measure ever recommended Tsinghua, obtain Stanford sum scholarship; "Talent teenager " Zhou Guang is big border the gold gainer of developer contest.

The graph is 3 author Zhou Guang, Tong Xianqiao, measure

When they decide to do poineering work, also caught up with the upsurge of investment.

Began 2017, home nobody drive poineering company also appears like emerge, investor is fooled and go up. This results from greatly Baidu nobody drive " 4 big King Kong " all leaves this post do poineering work -- have " nobody drive " the say Ni Kai of the first person establishs standing grain much science and technology; Yu Kai of assistant dean of academy of study of former Baidu deepness establishs horizontal, near future B annulus financing 600 million dollar, ascend body alone horny animal cavalcade; The intelligence before Baidu drives interest of general manager king established Jing Chi science and technology; Wuen of the chief scientist before Baidu amounted to his to become a shareholder what the wife establishs is unmanned drive project Drive.ai.

As a result of advocate the level that hit L4 unmanned road-sense, the getaway that this lets Roadstar.ai is nodded compare a person of the same trade it seems that other company is higher. L4 class nobody drive those who point to is car OK and complete own set out on a journey, need not the mankind is accompanied, should restrict commonly with setting go up in public transportation, content shedding, taxi, this system satisfy the need besides the reflection with had been had relatively mature ability, can replace brake, steering wheel, accelerator to wait. Be in at that time home, fixed position is in the poineering project can be counted on one's fingers of L4 above.

After establishing two months, roadstar.ai took angel annulus financing 10 million dollar, the group when those only 20 people. After a year, roadstar.ai obtains A annulus financing of 128 million dollar, financing amount broke up decuple. Investor also grew line of business inside famous achieve greatly cast, double lake capital, yuan capital, capital serves as the Yun Qi that angel annulus enters with cast just enter, and other angel casts those representing capital, fail to preserve partner status even.

This financing is at that time home nobody drive the brushstroke with domain financing highest forehead, although be put in the AI 2018 to do poineering work in upsurge, this financing also is next to big border, business soup, cloud from science and technology, rank the 4th, at present before 3 had been an industry alone horny animal.

Under photograph comparing, the product of Roadstar.ai does not have very strong conviction. When obtaining A annulus financing, roadstar.ai released the first product only -- carry pure homebred lidar " Aires · acute " , and be in the road that start to measure level.

Tong Xianqiao is in at that time in interviewing, mention, the likelihood that this product implementation commercializes should arrive 2020. "We think 2020 is automatic road-sense large-scale the node that commercializes be born. Our centre of gravity still was checking 2018, test car the end of the year can expand 30-50 stage; 2019, we will with OEM (plant of the car that decide a dot) undertake cooperative, custom-built 200 embarking Roadstar.ai drive automatically the unmanned vehicle of the solution; Strove for implementation to produce 1500 unmanned cars oneself 2020, do nobody to drive truly of be born try operation, realize long-range assistance ' mode of half unmanned operation ' . " for must, up to 2018, the product of Roadstar.ai still lies Demo phase.

And like company of most AI newly established, roadstar.ai grudges none in the expenditure on manpower cost. According to drawing material of the invite applications for a job that tick off a net, roadstar.ai only algorithmic trainee monthly pay is in surely 20 thousand - 40 thousand between, senior engineer yearly salary is close 1 million. The basis tastes an investigation that play to show before this, the general of engineer yearly salary of company of domestic artificial intelligence is ubiquitous 300 thousand - 500 thousand, researcher yearly salary is in 50~100 ten thousand, the project is in charge of or CTO can be in mostly yearly salary 800 thousand - 1.5 million the left and right sides.

A Roadstar.ai leaves office staff to mention, the company is clear dish before had stopped newlywed person of invite applications for a job, he thinks " the company staff invite applications for a job of dominant of nip off research and development, be equivalent to nip off army provisions, company can wait dead only. " but make Roadstar.ai fall to pieces truly, it is father between faction, and the investor that faction brings about is right the distrust of virgin group.

This is " incident of Luo Sheng door " . On one hand the administrative layer that Tong shows Qiao Heheng quantity to be a delegate says Zhou Guang illicit opens code library to unlawfully posses the blueprint, data that make a holiday, jobbery, it is even in A annulus financing the fellow student that uses oneself receives sales commission, put forward to unmake to its.

On the other hand, investor criticises Tong Heheng administration occurs a lot of problem, did not agree with do sth without authorization to fire Zhou Guang via the board of directors, the cash investment that abuses investor.

And after this, tong shows Qiao Heheng quantity to make a response in succession, say investor does not have enough patience, be eager to winning tall get one's own back, have the action such as loot official seal and aegis of net silver actor even, bring about company Qing Dynasty finally dish.

Once conceal is in the problem such as blemish of framework of not to be pooh-poohed of the technical bottleneck under bright unmanned road-sense, management, equity is placed to appear on the stage one by one nowadays face. From hold water to Qing Dynasty dish, the poineering company of this Cheng Mingxing that be held in both hands by capital does not survive.

Do poineering work in the AI that lifts in recent years in upsurge, besides the person that do poineering work, investor also " result cannot do not have " .

Horizontal father Yu Kai ever was mentioned in interview, original to doing poineering work oneself are very hesitant, it is investor persuades next ability to do poineering work certainly for many times.

And in tide of this round of capital, technical personnel accepts favour fully. "Last time technical personnel gets so tall attention, likelihood or at the beginning of 21 centuries, the company display one's talent for the first time such as Baidu, Tecent when, almost all author is the relevant and professional one's previous experience such as the computer. " intelligent robot company extremely Li Hongbo of Zhi Jia CTO ever was mentioned when accepting round-the-clock science and technology to interview.

And nowadays, this one act is performed again in AI domain history. "Drive with nobody for exemple, true contact crosses nobody to drive the handsome appearance of core technology is very rare, the talent that from Gu Ge Waymo, Baidu accordingly unmanned vehicle project comes out can be fooled grab. " Yao Haibo is mentioned. " even the line " the magazine ever reported, the top talent whole world that leads AI development is not worth 1000 people, and mostly the enterprise such as out cereal song, Microsoft, Baidu.

Below such big setting, investor is right technology " Niu Ren " include degree taller also. But the stability of the poineering group that makes by technical qualified personnel is apparently insufficient however, almost every artificial intelligence company that establishs above 3 years can exist " the group leaves, do poineering work 2 times " incident.

After Xu Dong of Cao of business liquid science and technology leaves his post, establish to drive automatically for example company Momenta; Nobody drive Jing Chi science and technology changes through, real division gives 3 companies, it is respectively more the article after the name is sent all right far, what the herd month science and technology that Yang Qingxiong of former company vice president establishs and interest of former CEO king establish is medium wisdom travel; Sai Bichi employee leaves his post establish speech recognition company gallop acoustical science and technology; Yun Zhisheng CMO leaves his post education of first signs of company of education of patriarch labour intelligence; Dr. Ding Peng of case spirit deep pupil leaves his post DeepCare of company of medical treatment of patriarch labour intelligence.

The cause that causes virgin group crumble finally is numerous, equity controversial issue is among them one of.

The investor of domain of an artificial intelligence thinks, the equity controversial issue that is similar to Roadstar.ai appears in poineering company of a lot of AI, "Often virgin group needs researcher of many actual strength to enter bureau, investor just is met more value. But as financing amount increasing, head of whose give oneself airs is a problem, and the group of newly established company is developing difference of the generation on direction easily, final occurrence author leaves, or the case that leaves because of faction. Or the case that leaves because of faction..

Drive for nobody together the Jing Chi science and technology of newly established company also has appeared " of equity contend for " . In July 2018, pan Saining of vice-president of delegate of former legal person of Jing Chi science and technology, product passes date of public of individual small letter to release a message to call Jing Chi the person such as Lv Qing of CFO of science and technology agree to have its equity impawn without its, the sign one's name that forges Pan and partner are met resolution, change the legal representative of limited company of Beijing Jing Qi IT illegally with executive trustee for Lv Qing. And be passed again forge the means of autograph, cheat industrial and commercial bureau to fill the official seal that got a company reachs business license.

To this, board of directors of Jing Chi science and technology releases official statement to say, the announcement that Pan Saining issues on Internet nots agree with badly with the fact, and the employee that Pan Yi is not Jing Chi science and technology. After this, incident inverts for many times, deep-set inside the Jing Chi science and technology that fights public opinion disturbance is final more the name is " Wen Yuanzhi goes " , with abate influence.

Besides, technical group manages in the company and exist on finance affairs short board, also be this kinds of poineering company " short-lived " reason.

2018, science and technology of deep ancient bronze mirror of company of newly established of domestic AI chip by Sai Lingsai of global chip tycoon (Xilinx) is bought. Yao Song of CEO of science and technology of deep ancient bronze mirror arrives in the Ceng Di in interviewing, running poineering group is him is short board, " my individual, I feel or a lot of places need a breakthrough, (for example) know a technique again, but can do good government likewise. But can do good government likewise..

It is likewise in the faction of Roadstar.ai, besides 3 author, the still has backside the 4th person with public opinion most doubt -- Na Xiaochuan of chief strategy officer. Na Xiaochuan and Tong Xianqiao are college fellow student, ever held the position of a manager in aether investment, main and responsible cash shifts the investment of the domain. Depend on the experience in financial domain, na Xiaochuan enters Roadstar.ai to be in charge of investment and finance affairs subsequently.

Original, in investor eye, na Xiaochuan is entered the bureau is OK make a group more complete, but the practice of his after this lets investor be indignant however. Have be close to Roadstar.ai personage to divulge, na Xiaochuan ever persuaded the person such as Tong Xianqiao to take out partial financing amount, use as cash shifts investment, besides, its still are suspected of selling a foreign country the group company important code.

"The poineering group of an artificial intelligence, besides technical big ox, match management and a few financial person with abilities, it is inevitable requirement. Of the person that OK and effective complementary technology does poineering work short board. " Yao Haibo is mentioned, "But, find the partner of OK and sufficient credit, be not easy thing. Accordingly, the company should go further, the core personnel such as CEO, CTO also must study business management. The core personnel such as CEO, CTO also must study business management..

Nowadays, a lot of found by technical qualified personnel alone horny animal company is trying to cast off these " short board " . "Found the matters concerned that a company involves part of part of side of a lot of sides, after taking investment, how more efficient application, how outspread group, we (virgin group) always should open the meeting a lot of times, need a course that suits for a long time. " free from worries inspects Tang Wenbin of author of CTO of science and technology, combination to be mentioned when accepting round-the-clock science and technology to interview, for this, its involve the camp of poineering a dark horse of business management at attending 2014, company CEO Yin Ji also is lakefront institute the member of first phase.

One word of AI is already occupational blast tuyere is old, nobody drive the catchword of the company also from " the be born inside 5 years " to " the be born inside 3 years " , arrive again " this year be born " , more and more resonant. But the acceptance on reality and PPT still has certain space.

"A few projects can take financing of high specified number at first, because be good at doing Demo,be, but a lot of arrived truly start off, the technology still closes nevertheless. " the investor of domain of an artificial intelligence is mentioned.

This year in March, the intermediary outside having reports, what Wu Enda wife serves as copartner is automatic drive poineering company Drive.ai is being sought " sell oneself or a member of one's family " .

Drive.ai once was the star company of unmanned car industry, stanford of one's previous experience of many group member. In September 2017, the company is obtained newest round of financing exceeds 77 million dollar, appraise value is amounted to 200 million. In investing list, aurora borealis thering is no lack of is achieved cast, the famous VC such as investment of large of GGV capital, favour.

This stars nowadays company also be about to " piece bureau " , investigate its are essential, or more is the technology closes nevertheless, commercialize pace slow. In May 2018, road of Drive.ai formal be born surveys a project, lagged behind a few years than player of a lot of heads. What undertake in California the road is measured only when those is automatic drive poineering company already exceeded 60.

By 2018, drive automatically personally of Motor Corporation Waymo CEO John Krafcik admits, automatic road-sense is very difficult, and the final phase that L5 class drives automatically is a kind of unreasonable expectation, not was necessary even, to doing poineering work group and investor are one kind is used up.

In whole region besides L4/L5 high speed is automatic before road-sense is mature, many poineering companies had been retreated and beg next, the choice depends on low speed to drive automatically (take the place of automatically for example content of guest berth car, last kilometer flows etc) realize fast be born, help a company " subsist " .

What hold water for a short while together almost with Roadstar.ai is unmanned drive the group pursues dark future took D annulus in Feburary this year financing of 95 million dollar, promotion is alone horny animal. This financing is apart from graph dark November 2017 span of round of financing is as long as recently 15 months.

Before financing reachs the designated position, graph dark was experienced relatively hard climb slope, because graph dark chooses,final a favourable turn appears is nobody drive the lorry is OK be born sheds a domain in content, had lasted in haven of the United States and Chinese north operation lasts operation.

After D annulus financing, chen Mo of graph dark CEO is special mention, this more than meeting uses financing at research and development, still can use at buying unmanned truck, augment fact does a group, with the actual application that flows at content.

2018 the beginning of the year, li Kaifu ever was mentioned when the speech, the bubble of artificial intelligence will be in the end of the year is undone, company of newly established of a big artificial intelligence will face the day of liquidation.

Look nowadays, even if big company also fails escape by sheer luck. 3 first, malic banner falls to drive automatically project peaceful calm plans (Project Titan) also comes out cut down the member of persons employed the message of nearly 190 people; General after buying Cruise 2016 oneself, the loss that brings every year exceeds 700 million dollar.

"A lot of demand have apparent hype mark, everybody knows the excessive value that is aimed at a project cannot be permanent, take the advantage of heat to sell brushstroke his rapidly, the following matter says again later. " electron of Du Ke university and Chen Yi of associate professor of computer project department ever complained like that, invested wet overheat to affect the progress that learning studies even nowadays, "Write a project to apply for to cannot find appropriate PI repeatedly now (Principle Investigator, researcher) come group group. Researcher) come group group..

And orgiastic later, people must begin to face reality. The investor of an artificial intelligence is final say: "Now, nobody drive the first a place with a draught has gone, a lot of companies are faced with fall into disuse. A lot of companies are faced with fall into disuse..