Crunchy AI: Softmax’s “organic alignment” approach draws from nature to reimagine AI-human collaboration

This AI removes its shoes before stepping into the office.

A new AI startup focused on “organic alignment” is challenging conventional approaches to AI alignment. Softmax, founded by tech veterans Emmett Shear, Adam Goldstein, and David Bloomin, has established a 10-person operation in San Francisco that combines research with commercial aspirations. The company’s philosophical approach draws inspiration from nature to develop a fundamentally different way of aligning human and AI goals, potentially representing a significant shift in how AI systems might be designed to work cooperatively with humans.

The big picture: Softmax aims to develop AI alignment principles inspired by natural collective intelligence rather than focusing on control-based approaches common in the industry.

• The startup describes its approach as “organic alignment,” which focuses on how intelligent agents can collaborate while maintaining individual identities.
• This philosophy contrasts with what the founders call “hierarchical alignment,” the control-oriented approach they claim dominates most foundation model companies.

What they’re saying: Emmett Shear, in his first interview about the company, explained that their approach draws from principles observed across diverse intelligent systems in nature.

• “We think there are these general principles that govern the alignment of any group of intelligent learning agents or beings, whether it’s an ant colony or humans on a team or cells in a body,” Shear stated.
• He emphasized that organic alignment centers on “this shared whole idea” where participants “maintain their individual identity” while finding their role in a greater collective.

Between the lines: Softmax represents a hybrid business model that balances theoretical AI alignment research with commercial ambitions.

• The company’s philosophical approach suggests they’re seeking alignment solutions that would allow AI systems to work more cooperatively with humans rather than simply being controlled by them.
• By drawing inspiration from natural systems like ant colonies and cellular organisms, Softmax is exploring whether coordination principles from evolutionary biology might translate to human-AI relations.