Visko, an innovative tech startup founded in 2025 by Qing “Will” Yin, a former Apple researcher with a Ph.D. from Stanford, has successfully secured $10 million in pre-seed funding to further develop its groundbreaking technology. Llama Ventures, a notable investment firm that supports early-stage companies with disruptive potential, spearheaded this initial financing round.
The company has introduced Orbis, a sophisticated AI foundation model that pioneers a new approach to video generation. Unlike traditional AI video generators that produce a static, finished clip from a simple prompt, Orbis operates as a “Live Model.” This approach lets the platform create continuously running, interactive video worlds that users can engage with in real time. Notably, as users modify their prompts during video generation, Orbis adjusts its output instantly, reflecting these changes while the stream remains active.
According to a technical report released by Visko, one standout feature of Orbis is its ability to produce high-resolution 4K video at 24 frames per second. The platform is designed to maintain hour-long video generation without encountering noticeable visual degradation or color drift, ensuring a consistent viewing experience.
Moreover, Orbis uses an advanced latent world model that evaluates potential future states during inference. This allows the AI to steer video generation toward more physically plausible object movements and behaviors, enhancing realism and immersion for viewers.
In its published evaluations, Visko claims Orbis has achieved impressive results across metrics for video quality and viewer preference in long-form content. Nonetheless, the company has been transparent about areas where other competing systems might outperform its offering, showcasing a commitment to continuous improvement and innovation.
The team at Visko comprises 16 highly skilled professionals who bring a wealth of experience from leading technology companies such as Apple, Google DeepMind, Meta, Amazon, and Tesla. This diverse background enriches the company’s development efforts and positions Visko at the forefront of the AI video generation landscape.
KEY QUOTES:
“Every real-time system before this faced the same wall: the longer a world runs, the more it falls apart. We built Orbis to hold together, physically, visually and narratively, for as long as you want to stay inside it.”
Qing “Will” Yin, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Visko
“Visko is pursuing one of the most ambitious directions in video AI: live, stateful models that continuously perceive, predict, and interact with the world in real time while maintaining physical consistency.”
Michael I. Jordan, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Visko