This AI entrepreneur is developing agents that can plan ahead for the unexpected
A stealth startup is building agents that can plan for the unexpected—the next frontier after reactive autonomy.
Why it matters
Agent planning and foresight is emerging as a key capability gap. This story profiles early technical work on agents that reason through contingencies rather than just respond to immediate tasks—a meaningful shift in how autonomous systems handle uncertainty.
The key facts
9 to knowDanijar Hafner launching stealth startup focused on agent planning
Located in San Francisco SoMa; minimal team at launch
Focus area: agents that plan ahead for unexpected scenarios
Represents shift from reactive to predictive agent autonomy
Danijar Hafner (former DeepMind researcher) founding new stealth startup
Focus on agents with planning capabilities for unexpected scenarios
Based in San Francisco SoMa
Still in stealth mode, minimal public technical detail available
Published September 2026
Go to the source
MIT Technology Review AItechnologyreview.com
Publisher excerpt: Danijar Hafner’s office in San Francisco’s SoMa district sits mostly empty. His brand-new startup is still in stealth mode and doesn’t even have its name on the door. On the day I visit, there’s only one other person there, and little in the way of furniture. But what it lacks in decor, it makes up…