In Bowling Green, Kentucky, the relocating startup train keeps on chugging on its way to the Western Kentucky University Innovation Campus. First, it was augmented reality (AR) firm MyXR in April. Then, it was IP-focused Lunae, announced last week.
Today, beingAI — an artificial intelligence (AI) company that has been creating what is deemed as “the world’s first transmedia AI beings” — has announced it, too, will be moving to South Central Kentucky, according to a news release, as part of an approximate $3 million investment.
The company was co-founded in 2020 by CEO Jeanne Lim, who is currently based out of Hong Kong. Before working on beingAI, Lim served as CEO of Hanson Robotics, known mostly for Sophia the Robot (see photo below), a humanoid robot that first debuted at South by Southwest (SXSW) in 2016.
“The next-generation digital experience will be centered around human-AI interaction, which requires sensibility and pragmatism in user experience design enabled by the latest AI and extended reality innovations,” Lim said in a release. “Bowling Green offers so much of what I need to bring these elements together. I’m looking forward to forging strategic, long-term partnerships there to grow our business across the U.S. and globally.”
Most recently, beingAI was one of five global AI startup finalists at the SXSW Pitch last year. It will be featured in the campus’ new Immersive Experience Innovation Lab — as the grounds to continue to work on its AI beings, who have the ability to go between physical and virtual worlds while engaging with people (for a better idea, check out the video on its main site). This will be the company's first location in the U.S.
The new headquarters will be centered around creating 3D character design and development, but also producing other content, services and experiences as part of collaborations with others within the the AR/VR (virtual reality) immersive experience space.
“The growth and momentum we are seeing throughout Kentucky’s technology sector is no accident,” said Gov. Andy Beshear in the release. “Creating an environment that allows for startups and tech companies to thrive is critical to the commonwealth’s long-term success. I want to thank company leadership, Western Kentucky University and the city of Bowling Green for working together to make this project a reality and welcome beingAI to the commonwealth. I look forward to their future success.”
In addition, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminary approved beingAI for $400,000 in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act (KEIA), which allows approved companies to recoup sales and use tax in the commonwealth on construction costs, equipment and building fixtures, among other entities. The KEDFA report is scheduled to be released later today.
The tax incentives are subject to the company creating 28 full-time jobs — including creators, developers and scientists — within five years from the start with an average hourly wage of $44.89 an hour.
To date, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce has announced six economic development projects in South Central Kentucky, totaling $61.1 million in capital investment creating 305 new jobs in the region, according to the release.
“[Their] selection of Bowling Green for its U.S. headquarters is a major triumph for Bowling Green and the entire region,” said Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ron Bunch in the release. “We are proud to work alongside beingAI in supporting their growth and innovation. This partnership will undoubtedly strengthen our position as a hub for the next wave of emerging technology and storytelling companies.”
