Enterprise artificial intelligence company Xembly, which had released the Xena assistant in March, recently announced that it would be discontinuing its customer-facing services. The company cited challenges with underlying AI platforms as the reason for ceasing operations, with Xembly officially closing as a business in the coming months. However, the team expressed enthusiasm for a new chapter and further advancements in the field of AI.
Founded in 2020 in Seattle, Xembly had been focused on AI assistants prior to the rise of generative AI technologies like GPT-4. The company had secured $20 million in funding from investors such as Norwest Venture Partners and Lightspeed Venture Partners. Xembly catered to clients like Salesforce, Qualtrics, and Twilio, claiming to have saved teams countless hours of work time through its AI services. CEO Pete Christothoulou, a seasoned business and technology leader, had headed the company since its inception.
Xena, Xembly’s AI assistant, was designed to handle tasks like scheduling meetings, taking notes, and tracking action items. The company positioned Xena as an AI “Chief of Staff” that could assist executives with their daily responsibilities. Users like David Witkowski, CEO of Oku Solutions, expressed disappointment at the discontinuation of Xembly’s services, praising its accuracy and efficiency compared to other AI platforms on the market.
In a message to users, Xembly provided instructions on how to save their data before the services were shut down, allowing them to download videos or summaries to preserve valuable information. The company also informed administrators at corporate clients about its plans for a new chapter without disclosing the decision to wind up Xembly as a business. Xembly’s team, including co-founders Jason Flaks and Peter Francis, had grown to 45 employees by August 2023.
Despite the setback of discontinuing customer-facing services, Xembly’s leadership expressed optimism about exploring new opportunities in the field of AI. The announcement of winding up operations came amidst the changing landscape of AI platforms, with competitors like Microsoft entering the productivity assistant market. Xembly aimed to differentiate itself by offering an autopilot approach to enterprise productivity, where the tool takes on tasks rather than operating alongside the user.
As Xembly prepares to close as a business, its team remains committed to pushing the boundaries of AI and developing innovative solutions in the future. The decision to wind up operations marks the end of a chapter for the company, but also opens up possibilities for new endeavors and advancements in the ever-evolving AI industry. Ultimately, Xembly’s dedication to leveraging AI for productivity and efficiency has left a lasting impact on the market and its users.
