Enigma Raises $70 Million to Advance Human-Robot Interaction

Enigma, a robotics research lab founded less than a year ago by Jonathan Jacobi and Gal Niv, is developing foundation models and interfaces intended to make machines easier for people to direct. Its approach differs from rivals that rely heavily on web video, simulation or sensor-equipped gloves to gather training data. Enigma is instead studying human behavior around robots, betting that intuitive controls — as simple as adjusting a car’s volume — are essential to moving AI beyond screens and into real-world tasks.

Enigma emerged from stealth on July 27, 2026, after raising a $70 million seed round led by Index Ventures and Ribbit Capital, with participation from Sarah Guo of Conviction Partners. The company also opened a large-scale online experiment that lets users worldwide interact with more than 100 proprietary AI robots housed in Israel and California. Participants can direct the machines through methods including text, audio, video demonstrations and drag-and-drop controls, generating data Enigma plans to use to improve both its interfaces and underlying robotics models.