Ex-OpenAI research chief Bob McGrew’s Arda raises $232M for US factories

Arda Industries, founded by OpenAI’s former research chief Bob McGrew, has come out of stealth with $232 million in funding, the company announced on Tuesday. Its AI software turns new product designs into working assembly lines. The total includes a $160 million Series A at a $1.5 billion valuation, co-led by Altimeter, Accel and Khosla Ventures. XYZ Venture Capital, 8VC, SV Angel and Felicis also took part. It follows a $72 million seed round led by Accel and Founders Fund. McGrew first spoke about the company to CNBC, in an exclusive interview. Arda’s agent works from a product’s CAD files and other design documents. It works out the assembly order, writes the instructions and lays out the stations. A design change can then reach the factory floor without stopping production.