Technology

Highlight AI App Secures $10 Million in Funding After Spinning Out from Medal

Highlight AI, a groundbreaking app, has raised $10 million after spinning out from Medal. Discover its unique features and future potential.

Highlight AI App Spins Out of Medal with $10 Million in Funding

Highlight, the innovative assistant app, has recently spun out from Medal, successfully raising $10 million in a funding round. This funding was led by General Catalyst, which is known for investing in transformative companies, and included contributions from notable investors like Valor, SV Angel, and Conviction Embed, alongside Medal's significant investment of $3 million from its recent $13 million round.

Evolution of Highlight from Medal

Initially conceived as a research project within Medal, the app aimed to bridge the gap between large language models (LLMs) and user interface interactions. Co-founder Pim de Witte explained that to grow rapidly and attract a skilled team of engineers, it needed to operate as a standalone entity. This transition has enabled the new team, which includes experienced professionals like Haris Butt from ClickUp, to focus on enhancing the app's capabilities and refining its user experience.

Highlight is a cross-platform desktop application designed to enable users to attach their screen, voice notes, or documents as context for queries posed to the LLM. A standout feature is its ability to transcribe meetings from system audio, allowing users to revisit discussions and extract valuable insights later. This capability is especially beneficial for professionals who juggle multiple tasks and need a reliable way to capture critical information.

Expanding User Capabilities with AI Features

The Highlight app offers functionalities commonly found in AI assistants, such as summarizing content, rewriting text, and providing contextual explanations. This aligns with the current trend of using AI to streamline workflows and enhance productivity across various sectors, including business, education, and personal development.

One of the most exciting developments is that the company has opened its platform for developers, enabling them to build custom applications on Highlight. However, the team recognized that limiting custom actions to a select group could hinder user experience. As a solution, the latest version empowers users to create prompts for specific actions, such as summarizing meeting highlights or generating reports based on user-defined criteria. This community-driven approach encourages users to share useful automations, fostering a collaborative environment.

For developers, Highlight plans to introduce an agentic framework, enabling background tasks like document summarization based on user-defined parameters. “Our vision is to create virtual employees to whom you can delegate tasks, freeing up your time,” de Witte stated. This innovative feature enhances productivity and transforms how users interact with AI, moving towards a more personalized experience.

Enhancing User Experience with Bold Design

Highlight is rolling out a push-to-talk shortcut and a new conversation feature for meeting recordings. Niko Bonatsos from General Catalyst emphasized the user-friendly design that incorporates on-screen context, contrasting with traditional chat-only interfaces used by many AI companies. He expressed enthusiasm for the design choices, highlighting their potential to revolutionize interaction by making it more intuitive and accessible for users of all technical backgrounds.

In a world where many productivity tools can feel overwhelming, Highlight aims to simplify user experience. By focusing on design elements that prioritize usability and context, the app sets itself apart from the crowded market of AI applications. This thoughtful approach is likely to resonate with users seeking efficiency without sacrificing ease of use.

Final Thoughts on Highlight's Potential

Currently, Highlight AI is available for free, but the company plans to implement a pricing model based on processed word count in the future. This approach aims to balance accessibility with sustainable growth, ensuring that users can continue to benefit from the app as it evolves.

As Highlight positions itself in the competitive AI landscape, its unique features and focus on user experience could attract a diverse range of users, from busy professionals to students and educators. The potential for increased productivity and streamlined workflows makes this tool a compelling choice for anyone looking to leverage AI in their daily routines.

Investors and users alike are eager to see how this innovative assistant evolves and influences productivity. With its strong foundation and ambitious goals, Highlight could well become a staple tool for anyone looking to harness the power of AI in their everyday tasks.