Alphabet subsidiaries Google DeepMind and Isomorphic Labs, alongside Meta, invest a combined $300 million into the Virtual Biology Initiative.
The nonprofit Biohub convenes this project. It aims to develop AI-based predictive models of human biology. These models accelerate disease research.
The initiative seeks to create a 'virtual cell'. This cell allows scientists to conduct digital experiments. It potentially shortens drug development timelines.
The U.S. government also backs the broader initiative. The Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health contribute. This brings the total investment to $1.8 billion.
The resulting datasets will eventually become public. Commercial funders Google and Meta will receive early access. This provides them a head start in training proprietary AI models for biomedical applications.