What To Know
- The company humorously named these models after the brains of small creatures — a fly and a chicken — but despite their tiny size, their abilities are anything but insignificant.
- By pushing the limits of compression without losing capability, Multiverse is setting the stage for a future where powerful AI lives directly within personal devices and consumer electronics.
A Revolutionary Step in AI Model Compression
A European AI startup has captured the spotlight by unveiling two of the world’s smallest yet high-performing artificial intelligence models. Multiverse Computing, headquartered in Donostia, Spain, has successfully engineered AI systems compact enough to fit onto smartphones, tablets, PCs, and even everyday household appliances. The company humorously named these models after the brains of small creatures — a fly and a chicken — but despite their tiny size, their abilities are anything but insignificant. This AI News report highlights how these developments mark a turning point in how artificial intelligence can be integrated seamlessly into daily life.
Multiverse computing has unveiled two of the world’s smallest yet high-performing artificial intelligence models
Image Credit: Multiverse
Introducing SuperFly and ChickBrain
The first of the new models, called SuperFly, is a compressed version of Hugging Face’s SmolLM2-135 model. With 94 million parameters, it is likened to the intelligence capacity of a fly’s brain but carries enough functionality to be embedded into IoT devices. Multiverse demonstrated its potential by showing how it can power appliances with voice-based commands such as “start quick wash” on a washing machine. Designed to operate without an internet connection, SuperFly is expected to bring AI accessibility into environments where cloud services may not be available.
The second innovation, ChickBrain, is significantly larger at 3.2 billion parameters but still far smaller than the Meta Llama 3.1 8B model it is derived from. Despite its compactness, ChickBrain surprisingly outperforms its original counterpart in key benchmarks, excelling in language processing, mathematical problem-solving, and general knowledge reasoning. Crucially, it can run locally on laptops such as a MacBook, empowering users with powerful AI capabilities without relying on external servers.
The CompactifAI Advantage
Multiverse Computing’s edge lies in its proprietary compression algorithm, CompactifAI. Unlike conventional model compression strategies, this method draws on principles from quantum physics, enabling a more refined and efficient process. With this, the startup can significantly shrink model sizes while preserving — and in some cases enhancing — their performance. The company has already released compressed variations of popular open-source models, including Mistral Small 3.1 and Llama 4 Scout, as well as slimmed-down editions of OpenAI’s models and even massive systems like DeepSeek R1 Slim.
The new multiverse AI models are among the smallest in the world
Image Credit: Multiverse
Market Momentum and Growing Partnerships
Multiverse recently raised €189 million in June, bringing its total funding to approximately $250 million since its founding in 2019. Major technology companies are already engaging with the startup. Talks are underway with Apple, Samsung, Sony, and HP — with HP itself joining as an investor during the latest funding round. The strong financial backing came primarily from European venture capital powerhouse Bullhound Capital, alongside Toshiba and HP Tech Ventures.
Beyond compressed AI models, the company’s technology extends into other domains such as image recognition. In just six years, Multiverse has attracted a wide roster of corporate clients, including BASF, Bosch, Moody’s, and Ally. Additionally, its models are accessible through an API hosted on AWS, giving developers worldwide access at lower costs compared to many established competitors.
A New Era of Device-Based AI
By pushing the limits of compression without losing capability, Multiverse is setting the stage for a future where powerful AI lives directly within personal devices and consumer electronics. This shift could reduce dependence on constant internet connectivity, lower operational costs, and expand AI’s reach into billions of gadgets globally. With SuperFly and ChickBrain, the company is positioning itself as a key player in democratizing artificial intelligence.
Looking ahead, the ability of Multiverse Computing to miniaturize AI without compromising quality could reshape how technology interacts with humans. These advancements mean that every device, from a refrigerator to a smartwatch, could soon carry intelligent features that operate independently, securely, and efficiently. The implications for industries, consumers, and global innovation are immense, signaling that the age of lightweight yet powerful AI has truly arrived.
For more details on multiverse computing, check out their website at:
https://www.multiverse.io/en-GB
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