First AI-generated drug enters clinical trial

Hey there, this is Yawn. Every day, there’s a plethora of happenings in the world of emerging tech. We’re here to deliver a handful that matter.

What’s on the docket today:

• First-ever AI-generated drug enters clinical trial 💊

• AR News: Google nixed their glasses, Surgeons get ‘Xray vision’ 🥽

• Nvidia AI chip export to China to see restrictions ⛔️

• Former Google CEO: ‘24 elections to be a mess because of AI 🗳

💊 First AI-generated drug enters clinical trial

Not that kinda drug…

Insilico Medicine announced that their AI-generated drug known as INS018_055 has entered 12-week, Phase 2 clinical trial for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a rare type of chronic lung disease.

The company used AI both to discover a new target for IPF and then to generate a new molecule that could act on that target. Using a program called PandaOmics, a molecule they call INS018_055 was chosen as the most promising based on its characteristics and activity.

Insilico aims to confirm the safety and effectiveness of the drug through the Phase IIa study and proceed to Phase IIb with a larger participant cohort. Phase IIb will focus on determining significant response to the drug, followed by Phase III studies involving a larger group of patients to confirm safety and effectiveness before FDA approval.

🥽 AR news that matters

• Augmedics, a startup specializing in AR-based navigation platforms for spinal surgeries, has secured $82.5 million in Series D funding. Their "xvision" tech, which received FDA approval in 2019, combines software with custom-made hardware to provide surgeons with augmented reality "x-ray vision" during procedures. The company aims to replace fluoroscopy with its non-invasive procedures, reducing the health drawbacks associated with chemical-based x-rays.
  

• Google ended its internal project called Iris, which focused on the development of AR glasses. The project had been in progress for several years but was shelved in recent months due to layoffs and restructuring at Google. Namely, the departure of Clay Bavor, former Chief of AR/VR Projects. The company, however, is reportedly developing an XR (mixed-reality) device that they would potentially licenses to companies like Samsung called “Micro-XR”.

• Brilliant Labs, a Singapore-based startup, has developed Monocle, an open-source, pocket-sized AR lens that can be attached to any eyewear or held to the eye. Monocle provides an affordable alternative to Apple's Vision Pro headset and is priced at $349. The startup has raised $3 million funding led by Brendan Iribe, co-founder of Oculus. The startup aims to integrate its AR device into daily life and eventually eliminate the need for a smartphone as a relay point.

⛔️ Nvidia AI chip export to China to see restrictions

Nvidia's powerful semiconductors are highly sought after for their ability to fuel AI applications. Concerns have been raised among US policymakers about the potential misuse of these advanced chips if they fall into the wrong hands.

The fear is that unauthorized access to these chips could accelerate the spread of non-democratic ideas or be utilized in the development of autonomous weapons.

In response, the US Commerce Department is reportedly considering imposing new restrictions on exporting such chips to China. Nvidia had previously created a modified version of its popular AI chip, the A100, called the A800, to comply with previous Commerce Department guidelines. However, the proposed new limits would further restrict sales to China, potentially requiring a license for such transactions.

This move would continue the ongoing technology standoff between the US and Chinese governments. Restrictions on high-speed chips with AI capabilities could hamper China's ability to keep up with the rapid pace of AI development by US companies like Google and Microsoft-backed OpenAI.

American executives have cautioned against the potential misuse of AI, highlighting the risks of perpetuating discrimination or producing convincing propaganda.

🗳 Former Google CEO: ‘24 elections to be a mess because of AI

Eric Schmidt, former CEO of Google, warns that misinformation surrounding the 2024 election will be widespread due to the accessibility of advanced AI tools. He expresses concern that social media platforms are not adequately protecting users from false information generated by AI.

Google recently changed its policy and stopped removing false claims about widespread election fraud from YouTube, aiming to strike a balance between community protection and fostering open discussions.

In response to the policy change, Schmidt suggests that social media platforms should prioritize free speech for humans rather than computers. He proposes a system where all content is marked, user identities are known, and individuals are held accountable for violating the law.

While this approach doesn't solve the issue of factual disagreements, it establishes a foundation where claims are made by identifiable human users.

As if election seasons aren’t dramatic enough…

See you all Monday,
Roberto Nickson & Colby Shelton