Shantel
Key Takeaways:
- Stew Fortier, CEO of Type, has been honored with the WTF Innovators Award for his groundbreaking work in creating an AI-infused word processor application that brings the power of Large Language Models (LLMs) closer to the native creation process. QuHarrison Terry, the presenter of the award, recognizes Stew Fortier’s excellence and contribution to the field of AI innovation.
- The WTF Innovators Award celebrates individuals who excel at the forefront of societal change, with the inaugural class specifically focusing on AI innovators. As a token of appreciation, each of the 34 awardees receives a featured song by QuHarrison Terry and Genesis Renji. For Stew Fortier, the featured song is “Gotta Type,” produced by Nimso.
Type: AI-Powered Document Editor
Type is an AI-powered document editor that leverages the capabilities of Large Language Models to generate text that matches the content, formatting, and style of a given document. The application reimagines every aspect of document editing by infusing it with speed, intelligence, and delight. Throughout the writing process, users can invoke the power of a Large Language Model to generate ideas, complete sentences, generate paragraphs, and more.
The word processor is a fundamental tool for professionals, and Large Language Models are inherently skilled at writing. Therefore, incorporating Large Language Models into the word processor is a natural fit. With a Large Language Model integrated into the document editor, writers can provide context for their writing and collaborate with the AI. Instead of simply asking the AI to generate new text, it becomes a more interactive and collaborative back-and-forth process.
QuHarrison Terry commented, “The next step in the evolution of generative AI is to integrate the power of these tools directly into the software that creators are most familiar with. Stew has been developing software and tools to assist writers for many years and understands precisely what they need to enhance their abilities. His focus on augmenting writers with a human-centered approach is commendable.”
Recognition and Funding
Type raised $2.8 million in a seed round of funding, with notable participation from Y Combinator, Goodwater, Rogue Capital, Ascend, Cervin, and Omega Venture Partners. The support from these investors further validates the value and potential impact of Type’s AI-powered word processor.
Before founding Type, Stew Fortier co-founded Foster, a Y Combinator company that provided editorial support for online writers. He also served as the CTO in Residence at the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence, where he spun out WellSaid Labs, a text-to-speech generator. Furthermore, he held the position of CTO at Banzai during their Series A round and CTO at MassRoots during their $45 million public listing.
