The Dawn of AI-Driven Biology: EvolutionaryScale Raises £112.1 Million
The artificial intelligence (AI) start-up, EvolutionaryScale, has made headlines with its recent announcement of securing £112.1 million in seed funding. This substantial investment is set to propel the company’s mission to revolutionize the field of biology with its cutting-edge AI technology.
A ‘ChatGPT Moment’ for Biology
The funding round, led by prominent investors such as Nat Friedman, Daniel Gross, and Lux Capital, marks a significant milestone in EvolutionaryScale’s journey. The company’s ambitious goal is to create a large language model (LLM) that can engineer novel proteins, a breakthrough that could have far-reaching implications for various biological areas, including drug discovery and microbial engineering.
ESM3: A Game-Changer in Protein Engineering
EvolutionaryScale’s Chief Scientist, Alexander Rives, emphasized the potential of ESM3, the company’s pioneering LLM for biology. This innovative technology has been developed using a vast dataset of 2.8 billion proteins and 1 trillion teraflops of computing power. ESM3 is capable of simultaneously reasoning over the sequence, structure, and function of proteins, making it a powerful tool for scientists.
The Possibilities and Concerns of AI-Driven Biology
One remarkable example of ESM3’s capabilities is the engineering of a novel fluorescent protein that would have taken approximately 500 million years to evolve naturally. While this achievement holds immense potential, it also raises concerns about the potential misuse of AI in creating harmful bioweapons.
The Future of Biology: AI-Driven Innovation
As EvolutionaryScale prepares to share its technology with the scientific community, the possibilities for AI-driven innovation in biology are vast and exciting. With the potential to transform the way we approach biological research and discovery, EvolutionaryScale’s breakthrough could mark the beginning of a new era in biology.
The intersection of AI and biology holds immense potential for innovation and discovery.
ESM3’s capabilities in protein engineering could revolutionize various biological areas.
The future of biology is poised to be shaped by AI-driven innovation.
