Songyee Yoon, a former MIT PhD and current president of South Korean video game developer NCSoft, has announced the launch of Principle Venture Partners (PVP), a $100 million fund dedicated to backing AI startups. This new venture marks a significant milestone in Yoon's career, which has taken her from being an inspiration for a Korean TV show to becoming a leading figure in the AI investment landscape.

Yoon's journey to this point is a remarkable one. She was once an oddity on her college campus in South Korea, where her dedication to her work earned her a reputation as a "genius girl." This reputation even inspired a TV show writer to create a character based on her. Fast-forward to today, and Yoon has climbed the ranks to become a respected figure in the tech industry, with a PhD from MIT and a stint as president of NCSoft under her belt.

The PVP fund, which has already invested in six startups, including model maker Liquid AI, boasts an impressive team of academic powerhouses. Yoon's fellow partners include Daniela Rus, a renowned researcher and Yoon's colleague from MIT's board; Dawn Song, a MacArthur Fellow with extensive publications on computer security; and Jeremy Nixon, the founder of the AGI House, a AI hacker house that has attracted young talented founders. This team's research backgrounds give them a profound understanding of AI's evolution and future directions, which Yoon believes will be a significant advantage in winning deals.

The PVP team is betting on the next generation of unicorns being AI-native companies, built with AI in mind from the start. Yoon is not concerned about potentially missing out on investing in foundational companies like OpenAI or Anthropic, citing the example of digital native companies that started after the introduction of broadband and now dominate the NASDAQ top 10. The fund will invest across sectors, with Yoon particularly excited about AI's potential to transform the insurance industry, such as using AI to help people understand their plans or insurance companies specializing in underwriting autonomous robots.

However, Yoon is also aware of the potential risks and challenges associated with AI, particularly the issue of cultural colonialism. She notes that large model makers often claim to train their AI using global data, but this ignores the fact that 35% of the world's population lacks access to broadband and therefore cannot contribute to the data used for training. This, Yoon argues, inevitably means that certain cultures and viewpoints are not reflected in these AI systems.

To address this issue, Yoon believes that continuous conversations and increased representation throughout the industry are essential. The fact that PVP has three female partners, including herself, is a step in the right direction. While the fund does not explicitly position itself as a female-focused fund, Yoon acknowledges that female founders are drawn to PVP because of the partners' ability to understand and appreciate their strengths and superpowers.

In conclusion, the launch of Principle Venture Partners marks a significant development in the AI startup ecosystem, with a team of academic powerhouses backing innovative companies that will shape the future of AI. As the industry continues to evolve, it will be exciting to see how PVP's investments and approach contribute to the growth of AI-native companies and address the complex challenges associated with AI development.