Ayala Fund invests in Featherless.ai for AI accessibility

The Ayala Corporate Technology Innovation Venture (ACTIVE) Fund has made a significant investment in Featherless.ai, a startup focused on serverless AI technology. This move aims to make AI more accessible to a wider range of users. Featherless.ai is led by Founder and CEO Eugene Cheah. He believes AI is a transformative force, comparable to the rise of the internet. Cheah emphasizes the need to empower individuals around the world rather than letting a few control this technology. According to estimates, AI could boost the Philippine economy by 12 percent by 2030. However, many organizations face challenges adopting AI due to high costs and barriers for non-English speakers. Featherless.ai, co-founded by Cheah and Harrison Vanderbyl, offers access to over 4,000 open-source AI models. Their technology optimizes graphics processing unit (GPU) use and reduces downtime, providing affordable AI solutions. The startup features a pricing model that ensures predictable costs and allows for easy scaling depending on user needs. This investment from the ACTIVE Fund is seen as a step toward overcoming the obstacles that limit AI integration in various sectors.