- Medal secures $13 million in funding with a valuation of $333 million from investors including Horizons Ventures and OMERS Ventures.
- Launches Highlight, a cross-platform desktop app serving as a contextual AI assistant.
- Highlight captures on-screen content, enabling interactions with AI models like ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude.
- Emphasizes local processing for privacy, not storing captured content.
- Plans to monetize through app store models and premium subscriptions.
- Encourages developers to build on the Highlight platform, fostering an open ecosystem across Mac and Windows.
Main AI News:
Medal, renowned for its video game clipping tool, has raised $13 million in a funding round valuing the company at $333 million. Investors such as Horizons Ventures, OMERS Ventures, peak6, and Arcadia Investment Partners have shown confidence in Medal’s trajectory.
The highlight of this funding announcement is the launch of Highlight, a new cross-platform desktop application designed as a contextual AI assistant. Highlight captures on-screen content and enables users to interact with various models, including ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude, to obtain context-based information and assistance.
Henry Gladwyn from OMERS Ventures emphasized the strategic use of Medal’s technology in leveraging Large Language Models (LLMs) for user prompts, extending beyond gaming into broader applications. He sees Highlight as a transformative tool for capturing and utilizing on-screen and audio context effectively.
Highlight distinguishes itself by operating locally, ensuring privacy by not storing captured content. It aims to become a versatile assistant for desktop users, offering functionalities akin to cloud-based models while emphasizing local processing benefits.
Founder Pim de Witte envisions Highlight as a universally accessible AI platform, accommodating users of all ages and technological familiarity. The app suggests contextual prompts based on captured content, facilitating seamless interaction with AI-driven tools.
In addition to enhancing desktop productivity, Medal plans to support its flagship product, Medal.tv, while actively developing Highlight’s ecosystem. The platform welcomes developers to create and deploy their apps, fostering an open and customizable user experience across Mac and Windows.
Looking ahead, Medal aims to introduce monetization through app store models and premium subscriptions, aiming to sustain innovation and expand its offering in the burgeoning AI assistant market.
Conclusion:
Medal’s funding and launch of Highlight signify a strategic move into the desktop AI assistant market, leveraging its core technology for broader applications beyond gaming. With a focus on local processing and developer integration, Medal aims to compete in a growing sector driven by user privacy concerns and customizable AI solutions.
