OpenAI researcher Miles Wang in talks to launch AI drug discovery startup valued at $2B

Miles Wang, an OpenAI researcher whose enactment includes utilizing AI to accelerate technological and biologic discovery, is leaving the ChatGPT shaper to motorboat a caller startup focused connected processing AI models for cause discovery, according to 4 radical with cognition of his plans. Several different OpenAI researchers are expected to articulation the caller company.  

Wang is successful talks to rise astir $200 cardinal astatine a $2 cardinal valuation, 2 of the radical said. Lightspeed is successful discussions to pb the backing round, according to the people. Talks are ongoing, the woody whitethorn not beryllium last and details could change.

Wang disputed the story’s backing figures and statement of the institution but did not specify the close numbers oregon details. Lightspeed didn’t respond to a petition for comment.

The backing discussions constituent to capitalist involvement successful applying AI to marque breakthroughs successful beingness sciences. Chai Discovery, a two-year-old startup processing AI models that tin foretell molecular interactions to place caller drugs, announced connected Tuesday that it raised $400 million astatine a $3.8 cardinal valuation. (Co-founder Josh Meier besides passed done OpenAI arsenic a researcher.) Meanwhile, Google DeepMind spinout Isomorphic Labs, which besides develops AI models for cause discovery, raised a $2.1 billion Series B successful May.

Wang’s caller startup whitethorn beryllium moving connected AI models that volition assistance find caller uses for existing drugs and perchance those that antecedently failed successful trials, a mates of sources told TechCrunch. Finding caller uses for FDA-approved drugs tin effect successful importantly faster clip to gross than processing caller drugs from scratch, arsenic these medicines person already been tested for safety.

Wang joined OpenAI successful 2024 aft dropping retired from Harvard wherever helium was moving connected a bachelor’s grade successful machine science. (In caller years, investors are erstwhile again comfy successful betting connected young founders who haven’t completed college.)

At OpenAI, helium co-authored probe papers, including evaluating however AI models tin automate and accelerate technological discovery.