When NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang discussed his use of Chat GPT to explore the practical applications of generative AI in tackling real-world issues such as plastic decomposition and carbon emission reduction, it was unforeseen that a European AI startup would leverage Large Language Models (LLMs) for DNA and protein sequences to address these very challenges, leading to tangible use cases.
Stef van Grieken, co-founder and CEO of Cradle, shared in an exclusive interview with AIM that around 60% of consumer products today, including drugs, food, and chemicals, could potentially be produced using biological methods, a notion that resonated more profoundly with him compared to other AI applications being explored. Cradle, a European biotech startup, employs AI to expedite and streamline the process of designing and engineering proteins, including enzymes, vaccines, peptides, and antibodies.
Functioning akin to Chat GPT or diffusion models, Cradle's platform allows users to input a description of DNA or molecular structure along with desired attributes such as cellular binding or solubility in water. The AI then generates sequences with a higher likelihood of meeting these criteria, akin to infilling in GPT models but applied to DNA and protein sequences.
By leveraging proprietary models inspired by open-source ones like Transformer-based Bert, Cradle has achieved advancements in engineering proteins at a rate twice that of previous methods, significantly expediting research and development projects. However, challenges remain, particularly in acquiring sufficient data on proteins and managing slow feedback loops, which hinder the rapid progress seen in training models like GPT.
Despite these challenges, Cradle aims to address pressing real-world issues in medical research, including accessibility, cost, and logistics. By developing drugs that can be stored and distributed at room temperature, the company aims to improve global access to vaccines and medications. Moreover, by reducing the time and cost required to develop bio-based solutions, Cradle envisions a future with more sustainable products entering the market.
Inspired by a desire to make a meaningful impact, particularly for future generations, Grieken reflects on his journey from working at a large tech company like Google to founding Cradle. He emphasizes the invaluable learnings gained from his time at Google, particularly during the emergence of language models, which laid the foundation for his current venture.
With $29.7 million in total funding, Cradle operates from offices in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Zurich, Switzerland, as it continues to drive advancements in biotech through the convergence of AI and molecular biology.
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