Spanish 'soonicorn' Multiverse Computing releases free compressed AI model | TechCrunch
Summary
Spanish startup Multiverse Computing has launched a free compressed version of its HyperNova 60B AI model, claiming it outperforms Mistral's offerings while being more accessible for developers.
Why It Matters
The release of Multiverse's compressed AI model addresses the growing demand for efficient and cost-effective AI solutions. As companies seek alternatives to larger models, this innovation could democratize access to advanced AI technologies, particularly in Europe, where local solutions are increasingly sought after.
Key Takeaways
- Multiverse Computing's HyperNova 60B model is now available for free on Hugging Face.
- The model utilizes CompactifAI technology for compression, making it more accessible for companies.
- Multiverse claims its model is nearly as effective as larger counterparts while being significantly smaller.
- The company is rumored to be raising €500 million in funding, indicating strong investor interest.
- Multiverse aims to provide sovereign AI solutions, aligning with European demand for local tech alternatives.
Large language models have a problem: they are large. Multiverse Computing, a Spanish startup, is addressing this issue with compressed models that aim to close the gap between what frontier models can do and what companies can actually afford to deploy. The secret sauce is CompactifAI, a compression technology inspired by quantum computing that the Basque company has applied to models released by OpenAI. As of today, developers can access a newer version of Multiverse’s HyperNova 60B model for free on Hugging Face. The company also plans to open-source more compressed models in 2026 to support a wider range of use cases. According to Multiverse, its models are smaller, but nearly as potent and accurate. At 32GB, HyperNova 60B is roughly half the size of the model it derives from — OpenAI’s gpt-oss-120B — while boasting lower memory usage and lower latency. The updated version, called HyperNova 60B 2602, now also better supports tool calling and agentic coding, where inference costs can be high. One of the competitors Multiverse claims to have beaten with HyperNova 60B is Mistral Large 3, one of the models released by French decacorn Mistral AI. But beyond the technological rivalry, the two European AI companies also have a lot in common. Like Mistral, Multiverse has expanded beyond its home country, with offices in the United States, Canada, and across Europe. Both companies also have enterprise customers. In Multiverse’s case, it names Iberdrola, Bosch, and the Bank o...
