Metaphysic

01 / WHAT IT BUILT

What the company did

Metaphysic was a London-based AI content-creation startup founded by Tom Graham and Chris Ume, born out of the viral @deeptomcruise TikTok account that fooled the world with hyperreal deepfake videos of Tom Cruise. It built generative-AI tools for hyperrealistic digital content - including real-time deepfake performances and de-aging technology - used in advertising (Gillette, Belgian Football Association), live entertainment, and Hollywood film (aging and de-aging Tom Hanks and Robin Wright in Robert Zemeckis' 2024 feature Here). Its neural performance toolset won a Visual Effects Society Emerging Technology Award. After performing on America's Got Talent Season 17, it raised a $7.5 million round led by Google Ventures founder Bill Maris's Section 32, with Winklevoss Capital, Logan Paul, Meta's Oculus unit, 8VC, TO Ventures, Rakuten Capital and Liberty Global among backers. In February 2025 it was acquired, by way of merger, by Brahma, the AI and content-technology company created by DNEG Group - the VFX house behind Dune and Oppenheimer. The deal valued Brahma at $1.43 billion post-transaction, added $25 million of fresh investment from Abu Dhabi's United Al Saqer Group, and Metaphysic's existing investors became Brahma shareholders; CEO Thomas Graham became President of Brahma.

03 / EVENT HISTORY

Events in the structured record

1. 2024
   Acquisition

   Visual-effects company DNEG acquired artificial-intelligence company Metaphysic.