Former DeepMind Employee Starts New AI Venture
Significant Funding for AI Protein Design by DeepMind Veteran
Simón Kohl, a former engineer from DeepMind, has successfully raised $40 million for his new venture, Latent Labs. This startup aims to advance AI in protein design. Kohl, who contributed to the renowned AlphaFold project at DeepMind, emphasizes that Latent Labs will approach research differently than many competitors in the field, including Isomorphic Labs, a spinoff of DeepMind. Instead of aligning itself with major pharmaceutical companies for financial gain, Latent Labs intends to concentrate on foundational research, providing access to its innovative models for designing proteins, RNA, and DNA. The company has plans to branch into small molecule design in the future.
Latest Health Initiative from Apple
Overview of the Apple Health Study
Apple is advancing its commitment to health technology with the launch of a new initiative known as the Apple Health Study. This extensive research project aims to explore the connections between various health aspects. Collaborating with researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Apple seeks to gather valuable insights into health relationships through volunteer participation.
How the Study Works
The enrollment process for volunteers takes place through Apple’s Research app. Participants have the option to share a wide range of health data while retaining control over their privacy preferences. This flexibility is a significant feature of the study, allowing participants to determine how much information they wish to contribute.
Importance of the Health Study
The Apple Health Study underscores Apple’s intention to deepen its involvement in health technology. By harnessing user data, Apple hopes to uncover insights that could lead to better health outcomes. The findings from this study may pave the way for new advancements in health monitoring and personalized healthcare solutions.
Summary
With noteworthy investments and innovative research projects, the realms of AI protein design and digital health are witnessing groundbreaking developments. Simon Kohl’s Latent Labs stands apart with its innovative approach to protein design, while Apple’s Health Study promises to enrich understanding of health dynamics through a user-friendly platform. These initiatives mark significant strides in leveraging technology to improve life sciences and healthcare.
