Jean-Baptiste Kempf, renowned for developing the widely-used VLC Media Player, is now channeling his expertise into robotics with his new venture, Kyber. This Paris-based startup aims to provide a robust infrastructure for real-time remote control of devices, including robots and drones.
Kyber’s core offering is a software development kit (SDK) designed to synchronize video, audio, sensor data, and control inputs with minimal latency. This technology is crucial for applications where operators are geographically separated from the devices they control, such as in remote piloting of drones or managing robotic systems from afar.
The startup’s focus on reducing lag is reflected in its name, inspired by the lightsaber crystals in Star Wars, emphasizing the importance of speed in real-world control systems. Kempf’s background in video-streaming technology, notably through VLC and his tenure as CTO at cloud gaming company Shadow, has been instrumental in developing Kyber’s low-latency solutions.
Kyber’s potential applications extend beyond AI, encompassing any scenario requiring real-time remote control. The company has secured a $5 million funding round led by Lightspeed, a venture capital firm with investments in AI companies like Anthropic and Mistral AI. Lightspeed highlighted the significance of robust underlying systems for the advancement of physical AI.
Addressing scalability, Kempf noted that while some companies have developed similar software for specific use cases like remote driving, managing larger fleets presents new challenges. Kyber aims to provide solutions capable of handling operations at a much larger scale, potentially managing millions of devices.
Observability is another critical aspect Kyber addresses. Ensuring that systems function correctly becomes increasingly important as AI agents manage extensive networks. The ability to remotely update software without physical access to each device offers significant operational advantages.
Kyber’s business model includes an open-source core project, allowing widespread access and collaboration, while offering a commercial version tailored for enterprise clients. The company also provides custom deployment services through forward-deployed engineers (FDEs), ensuring that clients receive hands-on support for their specific needs.
With a team of 25 full-time staff, Kyber operates from its headquarters in Paris, with additional offices in San Francisco and Singapore. This global presence positions the company to serve a diverse client base across various industries.
Kyber’s emergence reflects a broader trend of integrating advanced software solutions into robotics and remote device management. As the demand for real-time control systems grows, Kyber’s technology could play a pivotal role in enabling efficient and scalable operations across multiple sectors.
