ChatGPT co-creator's startup launches Jev, a non-LLM model reportedly eyeing $10B valuation

aakashgupta · x · 2026-09-26

Diogo Almeida (ex-Google Brain, ex-OpenAI, co-author on the RLHF paper behind ChatGPT) has launched Jev, a new model built with a novel training method called RLCD. Jev is not an LLM but a decision-making model that official claims put it at 20-200x faster and 40-400x cheaper (down to $0.042 per unit) than writing-focused LLMs, fitting into workflows alongside them. The launch tweet drew over 38M views. Co-founders Erik Gafni and Sasha Sheng spent two years in stealth after a $40M seed led by DCVC at a $200M valuation; the startup is now reportedly in talks at a $10B valuation. The author also published a hands-on adoption guide.

Related event: Jev, by ChatGPT Co-author, in Talks at $10B Valuation(2 posts)→

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