The news: WhyLabs, a spin-off from the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2) in Seattle, has raised $ 10 million and released a new tool to support machine learning applications.

The problem: As more companies take advantage of machine learning and artificial intelligence, the need to capture and correct failures becomes more urgent. The use of algorithms can have negative implications, as evidenced this week by the Zillow Group, for example.

“The challenges begin once the machine learning system is up and running – it automates millions of decisions a day,” a WhyLabs spokesperson told GeekWire in an email. “Monitoring its proper functioning becomes essential, as machine learning systems often fail catastrophically. “

The solution: WhyLabs’ software aims to prevent and diagnose in real time what Visnjic has described as “model collapses”. It offers an open source library that integrates with various on-premise or cloud infrastructure services and monitors activity. The platform then uses complex statistical methods to spot anomalies and alert engineers. WhyLabs is similar to Datadog, the publicly traded cloud software monitoring company, but with an emphasis on machine learning and background AI processes.

The new technology : WhyLabs launched a new tool, AI Observatory, in October that enables companies to monitor, understand and improve their AI applications. Users can integrate the tool as a layer of a machine learning application. “We are removing barriers to the adoption of this essential technology,” CEO and co-founder Alessya Visnjic said in a statement. Over a dozen organizations used the tool in its first week.

The competition: When WhyLabs parted ways with AI2 last year, it joined a growing number of startups tackling different parts of the machine learning development and deployment process. TruEra and Fiddler AI, for example, have similar functionality, but they target uses in specific industries.

The people: Visnjic has already spent eight years at Amazon helping the tech giant grow their machine learning infrastructure and won CEO of the Year honors at this year’s GeekWire Awards. Two other co-founders, Andy Dang and Sam Gracie, are also Amazon veterans, and co-founder and COO Maria Karaivanova was previously an executive and director of Cloudflare at Madrona Venture Group.

Donors : The Series A cycle was co-led by Defy Partners and AI Fund, led by Coursera Co-Founder and Chairman Andrew Ng. Existing donors, including Madrona and Bezos Expeditions, also participated. The $ 10 million Series A round builds on a $ 4 million raise last fall.

The future: WhyLabs plans to add features such as increased support for the uses of image processing, audio and natural language and increased integration with other tools. The 18-person company, with satellite offices in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Novi Sad, Serbia, aims to double its workforce in 2022. “We’re a remote business first. However, we appreciate the face to face time with the team, ”said the spokesperson.