Home / Technology / OpenAI Researcher Jumps Ship for AI Drug Discovery
OpenAI Researcher Jumps Ship for AI Drug Discovery
15 Jul
Summary
- Researcher Miles Wang leaves OpenAI to start new AI drug discovery company.
- Startup reportedly in talks to raise $200 million at $2 billion valuation.
- Investors show strong interest in AI applications for life sciences breakthroughs.
Miles Wang, a researcher from OpenAI known for his work in accelerating scientific discovery with AI, is departing the company. He plans to establish a new startup dedicated to developing AI models for drug discovery. This move is supported by other OpenAI researchers expected to join his new venture.
Reports suggest Wang's startup is in discussions to secure approximately $200 million in funding, with an estimated valuation of $2 billion. Investment firms like Lightspeed are reportedly considering leading this funding round, reflecting a strong investor appetite for AI in life sciences.
This development coincides with other significant funding rounds in the AI drug discovery space. Chai Discovery recently raised $400 million, and Google DeepMind's spinout Isomorphic Labs secured $2.1 billion. Wang's startup might focus on identifying new uses for existing drugs, a strategy that can expedite market entry due to established safety profiles.
Wang joined OpenAI in 2024 after leaving Harvard, where he pursued a computer science degree. His research at OpenAI focused on leveraging AI to automate and speed up scientific discovery processes.
