Behavioral Health Business reports that Slingshot AI raised $40 million, led by Andreessen Horowitz, to build a foundation model for psychology, with a16z arguing that general-purpose chatbots are "not the answer" for mental health and that Slingshot is "the best team in the world" for the task.
Behavioral Health Business reports that Slingshot AI raised $40 million led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from the Cultural Leadership Fund and a group of angel investors, building on an earlier $30 million round. The company, led by Casper co-founder Neil Parikh, is focused on building a foundation model for psychology, the technology behind its chatbot Ash. In the release, a16z spells out the thesis for a purpose-built model: "general purpose foundation models try to provide you with concrete answers. Good therapists do not. They help you recognize that you're in control of your own life." The firm adds that such models "were not the answer when it comes to psychology," which is why it "set out to find the best team in the world building a foundation model for psychology." The piece frames Slingshot's specialized approach as a deliberate departure from general-purpose AI assistants.
