USA — Moderna and IBM have announced a partnership aimed at utilizing generative artificial intelligence and quantum computing to further advance mRNA technology, which is the foundation of the company’s highly successful Covid vaccine.
This innovative partnership will enable Moderna to develop new AI models that will help improve mRNA science and prepare for the era of quantum computing, which is set to transform the business world with its game-changing technologies.
In a statement release, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating that it will enable them to develop cutting-edge therapies that can be utilized to combat various diseases.
As part of the agreement, Moderna will have access to IBM’s quantum computing systems, which will be instrumental in accelerating the discovery and creation of new messenger RNA vaccines and therapies.
Dr. Dario Gil, the director of IBM research, said that quantum technologies will revolutionize the world of medical research, and partnering with Moderna will enable them to develop groundbreaking therapies that will benefit patients worldwide.
In addition to providing access to their quantum computing systems, IBM will also provide experts who will collaborate with Moderna scientists to explore the use of quantum technologies.
Unlike traditional computers, quantum computing systems store information as both zeroes and ones, which enables them to solve complex problems that are beyond the capabilities of conventional computers.
Despite the exciting news, Moderna’s shares have seen a slight dip, while IBM’s stock has remained relatively unchanged.
Nevertheless, this groundbreaking partnership will undoubtedly position Moderna at the forefront of mRNA technology, with the potential to revolutionize medical research and transform the lives of millions of people worldwide.
As part of the partnership between Moderna and IBM, Moderna’s scientists will have access to IBM’s generative AI model, MoLFormer.
Generative AI algorithms can generate new content based on the data they have been trained on.
Moderna will use IBM’s model to understand the characteristics of potential mRNA medicines and design a new class of vaccines and therapies.
This partnership comes at a time when Moderna is experiencing post-pandemic growth, driven by its mRNA Covid vaccine.
The company gained significant attention for its messenger RNA technology, which educates human cells to produce a protein that triggers an immune response against specific diseases.
Moderna intends to leverage this technology to address other diseases as the world moves past the pandemic, and demand for Covid vaccines and treatments diminishes.
The company is currently working on developing a vaccine for respiratory syncytial virus and a shot that, when combined with Merck’s immunotherapy Keytruda, targets different types of cancer.
IBM’s increased investment in AI through new partnerships is also evident in the recent deal with NASA to develop AI foundation models to advance climate science.
This follows the AI boom sparked by the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot that provides clear and concise responses to questions.
Its release initiated an AI arms race and raised concerns about the extent of AI’s capabilities and potential risks.
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