Emmett Shear, the former CEO of Twitch, is launching a new AI-focused startup, according to TechCrunch.
The company, named Stem AI, is currently operating in stealth mode. Public records indicate it was incorporated in June 2023 and filed for a trademark in August of the same year. Shear’s name appears as CEO on the incorporation document filed with the California Secretary of State.
The trademark application reveals that Stem AI is developing AI systems designed to “understand, collaborate with, and align with human behavior, preferences, biology, morality, and ethics.” In August 2023, the startup secured funding from Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), as reported by Pitchbook.
Stem AI’s co-founder, Adam Goldstein, is best known for founding the travel search and booking platform Hipmunk. After selling Hipmunk to Concur in 2016, Goldstein became a visiting partner at Y Combinator and founded Astonishing Labs, an incubator focused on bio research. Additionally, Goldstein worked at Tufts University’s Levin Labs, where he developed models focused on biological systems, particularly cancer, according to his LinkedIn profile.
When contacted, neither Shear nor Goldstein provided much detail about Stem AI’s plans. A16z’s marketing team also did not respond to TechCrunch’s inquiries.
In recent months, Shear has publicly expressed views on AI design, safety, and regulation. On X (formerly Twitter), Shear criticized much of the proposed AI regulation, calling it a “bad idea.” In other posts, he has suggested a cautious approach to AI superintelligence, expressing concerns that unchecked AI development could lead to catastrophic outcomes. In one post, he argued that AI systems mimic human behavior due to a lack of stable internal goals, likening chatbots to individuals with borderline personality disorder.
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Shear, who spent nearly his entire career at Twitch, played a key role in growing the platform from its early days as Justin.tv to its current status as an Amazon-owned giant. Over the years, he has raised concerns about AI surpassing human control, particularly during a tech podcast in June 2023, where he advocated for regulatory measures, such as AI test bans or international collaborations.
In November 2023, Shear was briefly named interim CEO of OpenAI, following the ousting of CEO Sam Altman. Despite his ties to Altman, Shear reportedly threatened to resign if the board failed to provide evidence justifying Altman’s removal. According to The Wall Street Journal, Shear, along with Airbnb’s Brian Chesky, played a role in clearing the path for Altman’s return, leading to Shear’s resignation after Altman was reinstated.