Ginkgo Bioworks and Google Cloud have forged a groundbreaking partnership to leverage the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in the realm of biotechnology. Ginkgo Bioworks, a pioneer in cell programming and biosecurity, is teaming up with Google Cloud to harness AI’s power and cloud computing capabilities for advancing biology and biosecurity.

The collaboration’s core objective is to develop AI tools for biology and biosecurity. Ginkgo will create cutting-edge large language models (LLMs) on Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform, spanning genomics, protein function, and synthetic biology. This integration of AI aims to expedite innovation and discovery in diverse fields such as drug development, agriculture, manufacturing, and biosecurity.

By merging Ginkgo’s automated Foundry with Google Cloud’s computational prowess and AI expertise, the collaboration aspires to accelerate the engineering of biological solutions for pressing global challenges.

Ginkgo plans to make Google Cloud its primary cloud services provider, significantly boosting cloud computing resources to cater to growing demand. Google Cloud’s financial support for Ginkgo underscores their commitment to advancing foundational models in the life sciences.

Jason Kelly, Ginkgo Bioworks’ CEO, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “With Ginkgo’s Foundry, Google Cloud’s computing power, and Google’s AI expertise, I can’t think of a better partner to scale AI solutions in biological engineering.”

Ginkgo Bioworks, known for accelerating R&D projects across industries, collaborates with major players like Bayer, Biogen, and Merck. Their advanced Foundry, developed over a decade, streamlines research and data generation in biotechnology.

The partnership’s exciting prospect lies in interconnected AI models. The initial model will focus on proteins, paving the way for applications such as protein design, sequence optimization, and functional engineering, with potential applications spanning therapeutics and gene therapy.

Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud, envisions the profound impact of combining AI and biotechnology, reshaping humanity’s grasp of biology and its applications.

This collaboration will fuel initiatives, including:

Large language models for biological engineering.
Access to advanced infrastructure, including Google Cloud’s specialized hardware.
Exploring generative AI enterprise search for data utilization.
Developing improved central data repositories for comprehensive analysis.
Aggregating and sharing public data for broader use.
Ginkgo’s preference for Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform stems from scalability, computational power, security, and control over proprietary data.

This partnership signifies a significant leap forward in the convergence of AI and biotechnology, poised to accelerate progress in various sectors and reshape humanity’s understanding of biology.

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