AI drugs head to human trials

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AI-DESIGNED DRUGS SET FOR HUMAN TRIALS 💊

We are one step closer to a pill that cures everything! 😳

What’s going on? AI-designed drugs are headed for human trials, thanks to Isomorphic Labs.

Want the details? This achievement from Isomorphic Labs builds on the success of AlphaFold, an AI system that can predict protein structures—essential knowledge for drug design. The AI then helps identify or design molecules likely to bind effectively with those proteins, which are tested and refined by scientists before moving to clinical trials. By combining AI researchers with experienced pharmaceutical scientists, Isomorphic Labs aims to design drugs for diseases like cancer faster, cheaper, and with a higher chance of success. The company has already partnered with major pharmaceutical players like Novartis and Eli Lilly and raised $600 million in funding.

Why is this important? This marks a potential turning point in drug discovery. Traditional drug development is costly, slow, and often unsuccessful. Isomorphic’s AI-driven approach could make the process faster and more precise, saving time, money, and lives. If successful, it could radically shift how we develop treatments—possibly making the idea of “click-to-create” drug design a future reality.

META POACHES APPLE’S HEAD OF AI MODELS ✌️

Meta is dominating the AI transfer portal. 😅

What’s up? Apple’s head of AI models, Ruoming Pang, is leaving the company to join Meta.

Want the details? Pang was in charge of building the AI models that power Apple Intelligence, including the new Siri project. But Apple’s AI hasn’t impressed compared to tools from OpenAI, Google, and even Meta. In fact, Apple has reportedly considered using outside AI companies to improve its products. Pang’s exit could be the first of many from Apple’s struggling AI division. Meanwhile, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been hiring top AI talent from all kinds of AI companies to work on a new team focused on developing advanced “superintelligent” AI.

Why is this significant? This move shows just how competitive the fight for top AI talent has become. Apple may have a hard time keeping up in the AI race if it keeps losing key people. Meta, on the other hand, could benefit from Pang’s experience building small, fast AI models for phones and devices.

WAYMO EXPLORES SELF-DRIVING TAXIS IN PHILLY AND NYC 🚕

Now we just have to teach the taxis to flip off pedestrians on the city streets. 😆

What’s happening? Waymo is taking its autonomous taxis on road trips to Philadelphia and New York City to explore future expansions.

Want the details? The Alphabet-owned company has launched several “road trips” this year, during which it sends human-driven cars outfitted with its self-driving tech into new cities to map streets and gather data. These trips are early-stage research efforts—not commercial rollouts—and typically involve testing the tech with a backup driver behind the wheel. In Philly, Waymo will drive through busy neighborhoods and highways. In New York, it will map Manhattan, Brooklyn, and parts of New Jersey while seeking regulatory approval to test self-driving more broadly. The company currently offers commercial robotaxi services in Atlanta, Austin, the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. It also plans to launch in Miami this year and Washington D.C. in 2026.

Why should you care? These mapping missions are the first step toward expanding Waymo’s robotaxi service into new areas. This aligns with Waymo’s long-term goal of bringing autonomous rides to more cities—potentially changing how millions get around.

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