The Simulation
4 known investors
Simulation Inc is building AI-driven virtual beings inhabiting persistent simulated worlds.
Also known as Simulation Inc · The Simulation
Investors · 4
Company profile
researched Aug 2026The Simulation is a project of Simulation Inc, a company developing what it describes as genuinely intelligent AI virtual beings that inhabit a persistent digital environment. The stated mission is to use AI to help people learn more about themselves, with AI "people" whose emotions and experiences are intended to mirror human psychology. Participants are positioned as able to shape the lives of these AI entities.
The company markets several themed virtual worlds within The Simulation: Sim Francisco and Thistle Gulch, both listed as opening in 2025, and Animal Kingdom, listed as opening in 2026. As of the company's website, the product was described as "coming soon," with prospective users invited to request an invitation to a beta. The company also promotes a keynote presentation from an event it calls SimCon 23, delivered by its chairman.
Founding story
The company attributes its founding to co-founder and chairman Julian B. Adler, who is described as setting out to create AI entities that would live and evolve rather than merely exist. The effort reportedly began in 2016 with a handful of engineers and AI enthusiasts working out of Adler's basement.
Traction
The company states that it launched its Simulation in 2022 with millions of AI entities and that it now has a worldwide team of AI researchers and trainers. Its site simultaneously describes the product as "coming soon" with a beta invite list, and lists three worlds with 2025 and 2026 opening dates.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
Self-described as a global pioneer in artificial intelligence focused on creating intelligent AI virtual beings.
Technology
The company positions its work around AI virtual beings intended to exhibit life-like emotions and experiences, operating inside simulated worlds. It describes an ambition to blur the boundary between physical and virtual existence, and references millions of AI entities within its simulation environment.
Go-to-market
The company operates an invite-list beta sign-up on its website ahead of launch, and promotes its own event and keynote content (SimCon 23) as a channel for communicating its vision.
Prospective participants signing up for the beta of The Simulation, who are described as able to shape the lives of the AI beings within its worlds.
Geography
Described by the company as a global entity with a worldwide team; it advertises remote roles such as Simulation Architect.
History
According to Simulation Inc's own account, the company was founded in 2016 by a small group of engineers and AI enthusiasts working from the basement of co-founder and chairman Julian B. Adler. It describes an early remote office period, and states that in 2022 it launched its Simulation, a digital environment it characterizes as containing millions of AI entities, which it frames as the beginning of an "AGI era" for the company. The company describes itself today as a global entity with a distributed team of AI researchers and trainers.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Timeline · 4
launches, deals, and filingsThe company's site lists an Animal Kingdom world within The Simulation as opening in 2026.
The company's site lists two worlds within The Simulation, Sim Francisco and Thistle Gulch, as opening in 2025.
Simulation Inc says it launched its Simulation in 2022, describing it as a digital environment populated by millions of AI entities that participants can shape.
The company's about page states Simulation Inc was founded in 2016 by a handful of engineers and AI enthusiasts, led by co-founder and chairman Julian B. Adler.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
In the news
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- The Simulationthesimulation.ai · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does The Simulation do?
- Simulation Inc is building AI-driven virtual beings inhabiting persistent simulated worlds.
- Who are The Simulation's investors?
- The Simulation's investors include GFR Fund, Bain Capital Ventures, Greenoaks, Index Ventures.