Imagine a self-driving vehicle steering into a wildfire to shut off a gas valve or a robot descending into a mine to make sure it’s safe for people to enter.
These are the kinds of scenarios driving FieldAI, a $2 billion startup backed by Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and other marquee investors. The 2-year-old firm recently moved to a more than 40,000-square-foot building in Irvine’s Spectrum District, where it’s pursuing major robotics breakthroughs, deploying autonomous robots in unfamiliar environments without GPS, maps or constant human oversight.
Scott Fox
“As we build technology that operates in the real world, not just in simulation, Irvine offers the space, infrastructure and hands-on environment our teams need to move fast and innovate,” says Tony Tran, director of field operations.
FieldAI’s expansion reflects its momentum. The company recently raised $405 million from investors, including Bezos Expeditions, Intel Capital and NVentures, Nvidia’s venture arm. The move also underscores the rapid spread of artificial intelligence across the region.
As in other innovation hubs, AI dominates Irvine’s conversations about economic growth.
“AI is the No. 1 business opportunity in startup land these days,” says Scott Fox, founder of the Irvine-based Orange County Startup Council. “We’re seeing an increasing number of talented engineers building interesting things locally, and local investors are chasing them, too.”
“AI is the No. 1 business opportunity in startup land these days. We’re seeing an increasing number of talented engineers building interesting things locally, and local investors are chasing them, too.”
Scott Fox
From millions to billions
Each year has brought more startups, investment and hiring, plus a strong level of competition as established firms race to integrate AI into their operations and newcomers build around niche ideas. Irvine’s strong talent pipeline and entrepreneurial culture support both paths.
“Irvine encourages risk-taking; it’s stitched into our community’s fabric,” says futurist Neil Sahota, a UC Irvine professor, author and AI adviser to the United Nations.
Dan Jenkins, strategic adviser and chair of UCI’s New Venture Competition, notes the shift: “Even two years ago, only a handful of startups were using AI. This year, pretty much everyone will have an AI component.”
FieldAI is among Irvine’s biggest successes, having reached unicorn status as a privately held company valued above $1 billion. Other notable AI-focused firms include:
Alteryx, a multibillion-dollar data analytics company that uses AI to enhance tools for clients such as McLaren Racing. The firm returned to private ownership in 2024.
Syntiant, founded in 2017 and backed by Microsoft and Intel, which builds low-power AI processors for devices from earbuds to cars.
Veritone, an AI-powered data-management company that returned to Irvine in late 2025 after a stint in Denver.
Caylent, a 10-year-old cloud-engineering company that has embraced AI across its workforce. It won Globee’s 2025 Company of the Year – Artificial Intelligence award.
Synergetics (formerly UnifyGPT), which lets businesses build custom virtual assistants for tasks such as data processing, customer service, billing and insurance claims.
Helio Genomics, which is developing an AI-powered blood test to detect cancer. It has raised more than $118 million from investors, including Samsung Securities and UC San Diego.
Eon Reality has adopted AI to enhance its virtual reality training programs for students and employees in industries from clean energy to mining to aerospace.
Also, UC Irvine – the city’s anchor for tech innovation – recently launched ZotGPT, a secure, campus‑built alternative to commercial AI systems.
The region’s AI investment surge is striking. Orange County AI-related funding – including venture capital, private equity and corporate spending – skyrocketed from 2008 to 2023, according to a 2024 report from the Leadership Alliance of Orange County and McKinsey & Company. The report highlights gains in cybersecurity, health care, gaming, clean energy, aerospace and defense, along with major growth in AI accelerators helping local companies adopt the technology.
“It would be hard to find this combination of skills, curiosity and collaboration in many other parts of the world,” says Amin Mansouri, who is pursuing a master’s degree in engineering at UC Irvine while working at an AI startup.