Common Sense Machines
AcquiredCambridge, US · Founded 2020 · 6 known investors
Find your way into Common Sense Machines
Multimodal and image-generation AI company; acquired by Google
Also known as Common Sense Machines, Inc. · CSM
Founders & leadership
Common Sense Machines was founded in 2020 by Tejas Kulkarni and Max Kleiman-Weiner.
Investors · 6
Reported raises · per SEC filings
Form D private placements$5.1M disclosed across 1 of 2 rounds · 2020–2024
▶$5.1MraisedJun 2020 · 19 investors · Other TechnologyRule 506(b)
- Tejas KulkarniExecutive Officer, Director
- Max Kleiman-WeinerExecutive Officer, Director
- Offering amount
- $5.1M
- Amount sold
- $5.1M
- First sale
- May 2020
- Incorporated
- Corporation, Delaware, 2020
- Federal exemptions
- 06b
Source: SEC EDGAR Form D. Amounts as filed; amended filings shown once at their latest values.
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Common Sense Machines (CSM) is an artificial intelligence company founded in 2020 and based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It develops generative AI models that infer three-dimensional structure from two-dimensional visual inputs, producing 3D assets from images. Its work is associated with 3D simulation technology and with the broader research direction of systems intended to model physical environments rather than operate solely on text or static images.
The company was co-founded by Tejas Kulkarni and Max Kleiman-Weiner, who both hold the title of Co-Founder and Co-CEO. Kulkarni previously worked as a research scientist at Google DeepMind and holds a PhD from MIT; Kleiman-Weiner also holds a PhD from MIT, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard, and previously co-founded Diffeo. At the time of its acquisition the company employed roughly a dozen people.
Alphabet, the parent company of Google, acquired Common Sense Machines in a transaction that closed on January 24, 2026. Financial terms were not disclosed, and neither Alphabet nor Google stated how the team would be integrated or whether product direction would change.
Founding story
The company was established in 2020 by Tejas Kulkarni and Max Kleiman-Weiner, both MIT PhDs. Kulkarni came from a research scientist role at Google DeepMind and framed the company's aim as incorporating "common sense" into artificial general intelligence; Kleiman-Weiner had completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard and previously co-founded Diffeo.
Latest developments
Alphabet acquired Common Sense Machines, with the transaction closing on January 24, 2026; financial terms were not disclosed and no changes to organizational structure or product direction were announced.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
A small, research-focused AI company in the 3D and multimodal generative AI space; PitchBook data cited in press coverage put its last valuation at approximately $15 million after $10 million raised.
Technology
The company trains generative AI models that infer 3D structure from 2D visual inputs, producing three-dimensional assets from images. This approach is described as technically distinct from text-based or purely image-based generative systems and is related to 3D simulation and "world model" research aimed at representing spatial consistency and physical structure.
Go-to-market
Users of AI-generated 3D asset workflows.
Geography
Headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States.
History
Founded in 2020, Common Sense Machines remained a privately held, research-focused company throughout its independent life, raising venture capital and staying small at roughly a dozen employees. In January 2026 it was acquired by Alphabet, Google's parent company, with the deal closing on January 24, 2026.
Risks & controversies
As a privately held company, details of its equity split, board composition beyond the two co-founders, and investor stakes were not publicly disclosed. Public information about the Alphabet acquisition, including the price, was limited.
Compiled by commissioned research from 2 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Founder mafia
3 people who came through Common Sense Machines went on to found or lead other companies.
Timeline · 1
launches, deals, and filingsAlphabet, the parent company of Google, acquired Cambridge, Massachusetts-based Common Sense Machines, Inc. The acquisition closed on January 24, 2026 according to S&P; financial terms were not disclosed.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 2
primary sources listed
- Who Owns Common Sense Machines Company? – CanvasBusinessModel.comcanvasbusinessmodel.com · web
2 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Common Sense Machines do?
- Cambridge, Massachusetts AI company building generative models that produce 3D assets from 2D images; acquired by Alphabet.
- Who founded Common Sense Machines?
- Common Sense Machines was founded by Tejas Kulkarni, Max Kleiman-Weiner in 2020.
- Who are Common Sense Machines's investors?
- Common Sense Machines's investors include Glasswing Ventures, TIRTA Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz, Blindspot Ventures Management Co, Intel Capital, Toyota Ventures.
- How much funding has Common Sense Machines raised?
- Common Sense Machines has disclosed $5.1M raised across 1 of its 2 known rounds.
- Where is Common Sense Machines headquartered?
- Common Sense Machines is headquartered in Cambridge, US.