On Monday, Apple's selection of finalists for its highly regarded "iPhone App of the Year" award once again showcases how the iPhone manufacturer is minimizing the influence of AI technology on the mobile app ecosystem. Just as it did in the previous year, Apple's 2024 list of top iPhone finalists leans towards more conventional iOS apps. These apps assist iPhone users in performing specific tasks such as recording professional video with Kino, customizing their running plans using Runna, or organizing their travels with Tripsy. Notably, AI apps like ChatGPT, Anthropic's Claude, Microsoft Copilot, and those dedicated to creating AI photos or videos were not nominated for this prestigious award.

Surprising Exclusion of ChatGPT

Given the widespread popularity of ChatGPT, which has now become an Apple partner for Siri improvements, it is quite astonishing to observe that the app has not received any official year-end accolades from Apple's App Store editorial team. Despite introducing clever new features in 2024, such as an Advanced Voice Mode for interacting with the AI virtual assistant and a web search feature that competes with Google, ChatGPT has been overlooked. While ChatGPT is frequently featured in the App Store and Google Play's editorial suggestions, both Apple and Google refrained from nominating it as the overall winner last year. In fact, ChatGPT achieved remarkable success in 2023 when it became the fastest-growing consumer application, reaching 100 million users shortly after its launch. This year, Google designated the party-planning app Partiful as its app of the year.

AI-Powered Apps on Other Finalist Lists

Although ChatGPT was snubbed, a small number of AI-powered apps made appearances on Apple's other 2024 finalist lists, including those for the iPad and Mac App of the Year. Among Apple's list of 45 finalists across various categories in apps and games, AI-powered apps were only mentioned a few times. Moises, an app that provides AI tools for practicing music, was nominated along with the kids app Bluey: Let's Play and the animation app Procreate Dreams for the iPad App of the Year. Adobe Lightroom, which now incorporates AI-powered features, was nominated alongside the productivity app OmniFocus 4 and the 3D design app Shapr 3D for the Mac App of the Year.

AI in Cultural Impact Finalists

Among a dozen Cultural Impact finalists, only one app was described by Apple as being enhanced by AI technology - the language-learning app EF Hello. While other apps may utilize AI secretly, like the finalist Pinterest, their App Store marketing does not promote them as "AI" apps to consumers. This indicates that Apple's curated list of finalists emphasizes apps that empower human creativity rather than those focused on AI automation. Most of the finalists' apps enable users to do more with their iPhone or other devices without relying on an AI assistant or features. Whether it's designing, organizing, filming, creating, or playing, these apps offer unique value.

Apps for Human Creativity

For instance, Kino, the professional video app developed by the makers of the pro camera app Halide, aims to enhance the video-making skills of every user. It provides tools and features that help users become better videographers. On the other hand, there are apps that assist Apple's devices in functioning as productivity tools for those in creative fields. This year, Apple also introduced the new Apple Vision Pro category, where it will select both an app and a game winner. These finalists highlight the importance of human creativity and the diverse ways in which apps can enhance the user experience on Apple devices.

In recent years, the use of AI to accelerate biotech processes has emerged as a standard practice. Companies specializing in deploying such technology are witnessing significant uptake and new investment. One such company is Cradle, which focuses on protein design and has recently raised $73 million to expand its labs and team.

Introduction to Cradle in the Biotech Landscape

Cradle came into existence in 2022 as part of a wave of companies exploring the application of language models in biotech. The founder and CEO, Stef van Grieken, aptly referred to the strings of amino acids and bases as an "alien programming language" that an AI model can partially understand.The company's approach involves accelerating the testing of large biomolecules like proteins. By identifying and recommending sequences that affect desirable qualities, Cradle aims to help biotech and pharma companies achieve their goals more efficiently. For instance, if a company has a useful protein but wants to make it more heat-resistant, Cradle's model can suggest alternative sequences that do not affect its other functions.After a successful $24 million A round in 2023, Cradle has been actively serving customers in the biotech and pharma spaces. Van Grieken emphasized that companies value the acceleration and cost savings achieved through fewer experimental runs.

Experimental Rounds and Their Costs

In biotech research, experimental rounds can be costly, often ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars. These rounds also take a significant amount of time. Moreover, there is an element of guesswork and luck involved, as careful study and intuition contribute to the results but there is inevitably a lot of unpredictability in the process. Any method that can reduce this uncertainty is highly welcomed.

The Simplicity of Cradle's SaaS Business Model

Cradle's simple SaaS business model has gained popularity. There is no need for companies to worry about royalties, revenue share, or IP issues. This provides a clear advantage and allows companies to focus on their core research and development activities.

Competition in the Biotech AI Space

Van Grieken noted that competition in the biotech AI space can be divided into two groups. One group engages in close partnerships to co-develop drugs or processes, while the other, like Cradle, strictly provides a software service. He believes that AI in drug discovery and development will eventually become a commodity, and every team should have access to it.

The Biotech Laboratory and Model Training

Although Cradle is a software company, it also has a laboratory in Amsterdam. Here, they conduct A/B testing on different types of proteins and develop "Foundational Datasets" that help models learn protein properties beneficial to all customers. Regular training and fine-tuning of models from these datasets are essential for the company's success.The recent $73 million round, led by IVP with Index Ventures and Kindred Capital participating, will be used to build out the wet lab and hire more staff. Van Grieken expressed the goal of putting Cradle's software into the hands of a million scientists.This shows the significant impact that AI is having on the biotech industry and how companies like Cradle are at the forefront of this transformation.