Moderna and IBM to Use AI and Quantum Computing on mRNA Technology for Vaccines

Moderna and IBM are collaborating on generative artificial intelligence and quantum computing to advance mRNA technology at the core of the company’s Covid vaccine. Moderna will access IBM’s quantum computing systems and generative AI model.

The companies agreed that Moderna will use IBM’s quantum computing systems to accelerate Moderna’s discovery and creation of new messenger RNA vaccines and therapies. IBM’s experts will also help Moderna scientists explore the use of quantum technologies. Moderna’s scientists will have access to IBM’s generative AI model known as MoLFormer. Generative AI describes algorithms that can be used to create new content based on the data they have been trained on.

Moderna is trying to harness technology to target additional diseases as the world emerges from the pandemic and demand for Covid vaccines and treatments slows.

The company is already working to develop a vaccine targeting the respiratory syncytial virus and a shot that can target different types of cancer when combined with Merck’s immunotherapy Keytruda.