December 06, 2023 08:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–IMIDomics, a patient-centric drug discovery and development company focused on Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (IMIDs), announced today that it is expanding its strategic collaboration with Bristol Myers Squibb, a global biopharmaceutical company. This expanded partnership extends the existing relationship between the two companies, advancing their shared commitment to accelerate research and development aimed at treating IMID patients.

In 2016, IMIDomics entered into a strategic partnership with BMS to harness their unique clinical and molecular database, and multidimensional analysis concentrated on IMIDs such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. This strategic collaboration has continued to provide Bristol Myers Squibb with comprehensive insight into the clinical and molecular underpinnings of IMIDs. Under this expanded collaboration, Bristol Myers Squibb and IMIDomics will partner to collect clinical and epidemiological data from patients with Sjögren’s disease and atopic dermatitis, generating cutting-edge biomolecular data.

“Bristol Myers Squibb has been a critical partner for IMIDomics over the past several years and we are thrilled to continue working together to tackle the challenges faced by those living with IMIDs,” said Sara Marsal, Chief Medical Officer at IMIDomics. “This expanded collaboration will allow both companies to accelerate IMID research using our Clinical Discovery Engine™ to better understand and uncover mechanisms driving Sjögren’s disease and atopic dermatitis.”

Data generated through this collaboration will be incorporated into IMIDomics’ proprietary Clinical Discovery Engine, which integrates and analyzes comprehensive epidemiological, clinical and multi-omic biomolecular data from patients to enable new understandings of complex IMIDs. By tapping IMIDomics’ unique clinical network and resources, Bristol Myers Squibb and IMIDomics can select the right drug for the right patient at the right time.

While the financial terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, this expanded collaboration underscores the strong partnership and commitment between IMIDomics and Bristol Myers Squibb, as well as a shared passion to revolutionizing the treatment landscape for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases.

About IMIDomics:

IMIDomics is a biotechnology company focused on patient-centric drug discovery for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). Our goal is to discover new and impactful IMIDs drugs by focusing on carefully selected patients, and stratifying populations to identify those most likely to respond. IMIDomics is powered by a unique Clinical Discovery Engine™, which integrates and analyzes proprietary clinical, epidemiological and patient-derived biomolecular datasets, generated in partnership with the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research, to establish a deeper understanding of IMID diseases. IMIDomics has identified previously unrecognized targets, six of which have been selected for development within IMIDomics’ active drug pipeline. By relying on access to well-defined patients and their clinically relevant samples, IMIDomics enhances the probability of successful IMID drug discovery and development for those in need.

To learn more about IMIDomics, please visit www.imidomics.com.

November 15, 2023 08:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–IMIDomics, a patient-centric drug discovery and development company focused on Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (IMIDs), proudly announces the addition of Dr. Eric Perakslis, a highly accomplished pharmaceutical R&D and digital sciences executive, as Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer (CTO). In addition, Dr. Ramon Felciano, joins as a strategic advisor in biomedical artificial intelligence and data science. These additions will play a pivotal role in advancing IMIDomics’ mission to accelerate data-driven drug discovery and development aimed at treating IMID patients.

Dr. Perakslis brings over two decades of experience in research, digital innovation, data science and technology leadership to IMIDomics. With a strong track record of leading implementation of digital and data strategies in healthcare, he most recently served as the Chief Science and Digital Officer at Duke Clinical Research Institute. His extensive career also includes significant leadership roles at Datavant, Takeda and J&J during his seventeen-year tenure in the pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, Dr. Perakslis spent two years as the Chief Information Officer and Chief Scientist (Informatics) at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. His expertise in leveraging data analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence will be invaluable to advancing IMIDomics’ research and development efforts. Dr. Perakslis’ appointment aligns seamlessly with his separate role as Chief Scientific and Data Officer at Pluto Health, a tech-enabled service coordination platform.

Dr. Perakslis expressed his enthusiasm about joining IMIDomics, stating, “I am eager to work closely with the IMIDomics team and contribute to their groundbreaking work in IMIDs. The potential to transform the lives of patients through personalized medicine is immense, and I am committed to offering my knowledge and experience to support IMIDomics’ mission.”

In addition to Eric’s appointment, IMIDomics welcomes Dr. Ramon Felciano, an industry leader in applying artificial intelligence and data science to healthcare and life science challenges as a strategic advisor. Dr. Felciano is the Founder and CEO of Digital Alchemy, founded and served as CTO and VP Data Strategy for QIAGEN’s Digital Insights business, and founded Ingenuity Systems, a market leader in predictive systems biology before its acquisition by QIAGEN. Dr. Felciano brings two decades of experience applying data science and artificial intelligence to drug discovery, precision medicine, public health and biomedical research. His insights will be instrumental in guiding IMIDomics’ strategy for translational research and use of human clinicogenomic data to ensure the company remains at the forefront of the field.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Perakslis as our new CTO, and Dr. Felciano as a strategic advisor,” stated Dr. Fred Craves, CEO of IMIDomics.” Their combined profound knowledge of digital technology and dedication to drug discovery and development align perfectly with our mission to develop personalized treatments for IMIDs. With Eric and Ramon on board, we are confident in our ability to expedite the pace of discovery and innovation at IMIDomics.”

About IMIDomics

IMIDomics is a biotechnology company focused on patient-centric drug discovery for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). Our goal is to discover new and impactful IMID drugs by focusing on carefully selected patients, and stratifying populations to identify those most likely to respond. IMIDomics is powered by a unique Clinical Discovery Engine™, which integrates and analyzes proprietary clinical, epidemiological and patient-derived biomolecular datasets, generated in partnership with the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research, to establish a deeper understanding of IMID diseases. IMIDomics has identified previously unrecognized targets, six of which have been selected for development within IMIDomics’ active drug pipeline. By relying on access to well-defined patients and their clinically relevant samples, IMIDomics enhances the probability of successful IMID drug discovery and development for those in need.

To learn more about IMIDomics, please visit www.imidomics.com.

83,000,000,000+ GEN AI CREATIONS AS OF Q3 2023

Since our last installment we’ve seen Generative AI continue its progression to mainstream, increased funding to AI companies and a clearer path to monetization emerge. Based on your requests and with new developments affecting AI almost daily we’ve decided to change the format of The “i” so we can address the developments not just quarterly, but on a week to week basis. You will see updates on our favorite social platforms regularly and then receive a quarterly wrap up as a newsletter. We hope you like this new format and frequency.

As generative AI becomes more prevalent, we continue to see significant shifts in how each of the use cases will be potentially impacted by regulation and how our workplace may change. Let’s start by analyzing the movement in the Generative AI Quadrant and provide some context to what we have seen in the past few months.

In the back half of 2023 thus far, we’ve seen a major step forward in chatbots and LLMs progressing to mainstream usage. ChapGPT is quickly becoming commonplace in the lexicon. As investment in the technology becomes more prevalent and consumer adoption continues to grow, the mainstream nature of the technology is becoming more and more clear.

Animation pipelines has appeared as a separate opportunity in our quadrant this installment having demonstrated a newfound focus on a generative path of its own when it comes to producing and monetizing IP.

Technical, business and story writing is becoming a fairly well understood use case but continues to have challenges. Job replacement, identification of AI usage and general accuracy in professional and education settings still leave some weary of going all-in on the technology. President Biden’s executive order that was announced in October highlights how uneasy AI makes people feel in the workplace and how our leaders are struggling to wrap their arms around it.

With all of these creative use cases blossoming protection remains one of the most important concepts in generative AI but few have enacted ways to ensure it.

Identifying and implementing authenticated approaches to generative AI will be an important way for many to become more engaged in the space.

Metaverse related generative technologies have continued to take a step backwards. Things like AR/VR, avatar creation and NFTs are struggling to keep up with the faster growth of other areas. They are still feeling the sting of a crypto downturn that drove a large part of their original popularity. 

Deepfakes, a beneficiary of the crypto lull, has continued to become more commonplace as the compute that was being used on crypto is being deferred to deepfake use cases. We are seeing this become top of mind as politicians and celebrities alike fear being taken advantage of by bad actors in the space.

As we continue to see a varied timetable on each use case’s progression to mainstream implementation, we are witnessing the emergence of a standardized approach on how enterprises and IP owners are implementing Generative AI. Next time on The “i” we will discuss the phases in which this standardization is happening.

October 12, 2023 08:00 ET| Source: AutoTech Breakthrough

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — AutoTech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence organization that recognizes the top companies, technologies and products in the global automotive and transportation technology markets announced that Tau Motors, an advanced technology company that develops next-generation products for electrification, wins this years’ “Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Innovation of the Year” award in the fourth annual AutoTech Breakthrough Awards for its software-defined power converter system.

Tau’s Ion converter system is made up of next next-generation power electronics modules – called auto converter modules (ACMs) – that can be configured together like building blocks and resolve all power conversion challenges locally at the device level. Smart power conversion is critical to advance the world today. Fundamentally, electrification requires the need for power in different forms – whether alternating current (AC), direct current (DC), or different voltage or current levels. Tau’s Ion modules shrink the cost, size, and components required for power conversion which enables industry leading efficiencies, scalability, and power densities (processing more power per unit volume). Notably, the power density of Tau’s soft-switching Ion modules has continued to double approximately every two years while achieving particularly high efficiency – in excess of 99%.

Tau’s Ion system includes adaptive smart filtering technology and advanced controls to enhance the reliability of power conversion systems – while also providing a software-defined, networked system that offers redundancy and reconfiguration through a hierarchical protocol that enables smart energy conversion. The software-defined technology for Tau’s Ion modules was co-developed through an innovative partnership between Tau’s leadership and Matthias Preindl, PhD, an associate professor of electrical engineering at Columbia University and chief scientist of the Ion platform.

Tau’s Ion converter modules can be deployed in applications ranging from electric vehicles (EVs) to the grid. In EVs, the technology can be deployed as a traction inverter, dedicated on-board charger, or in an integrated system (e.g., combining the two). The technology is positioned to slash EV costs, increase their range, and reduce charging times while expanding the capability of EVs with their integration in electric grids. The Ion modules offer two-way, or bidirectional power conversion meaning that the vehicle can discharge stored power back onto the grid, into a building, or even another vehicle. This two-way charging – vehicle-to-anything (“V2X”) – is particularly useful in situations where the grid is compromised such as in a power outage, or in areas with an unstable grid. V2X capability also allows load management, for instance, enabling homeowners to draw energy from the grid while energy prices are lower, and power their homes or even sell energy back to the grid when prices are higher.

“We’re proud to have pioneered technologies that leverage the company’s software-defined hardware platform to enable new capabilities for power conversion technology. Our Ion modules provide industry leading scale, economics, and performance for EVs and beyond.” said Wesley Pennington, Tau Founder and CEO. “We believe that the key to a more sustainable future requires modern power conversion systems to reshape how energy moves throughout our world. Thank you to AutoTech Breakthrough for the recognition, as well as our team at Tau for making our work possible. We are excited to continue to work alongside our partners to deploy new technologies to market and accelerate the transition to clean energy.”

The mission of the annual AutoTech Breakthrough Awards program is to conduct the industry’s most comprehensive analysis and evaluation of automotive and transportation technology categories. This year’s program attracted more than 1,600 nominations from over 15 different countries throughout the world and features companies with leading innovations across the industry.

“Tau’s revolutionary platform is poised to disrupt multiple industries and reshape the world’s energy in applications ranging from electric vehicles to the grid. We’re pleased to recognize their technology as the ‘V2X Innovation of the Year,’” said Bryan Vaughn, Managing Director of AutoTech Breakthrough Awards. “Power conversion is at the heart of electrification, and efficiencies compound. When deployed in operation, Tau’s Ion modules offer significant cost reduction and unparalleled modularity, industry leading efficiency, enhanced robustness, and longevity. Tau’s Ion system is pushing the boundaries of existing, dated technology to enable new operating modes and capability for EVs while providing critical efficiency and scalability for the industry.”

About AutoTech Breakthrough
Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the AutoTech Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in automotive technologies, services, companies and products. The AutoTech Breakthrough Awards program provides a forum for public recognition around the achievements of AutoTech companies and solutions in categories including Connected Car, Electric Vehicles, Engine Tech, Automotive CyberSecurity, Sensor Technology, Traffic Tech, Vehicle Telematics and more. For more information visit AutoTechBreakthrough.com

Tech Breakthrough LLC does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our recognition programs, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with award designations. Tech Breakthrough LLC recognition consists of the opinions of the Tech Breakthrough LLC organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Tech Breakthrough LLC disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this recognition program, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

SAN RAFAEL, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–IMIDomics Inc., a patient-centric drug discovery and development company focused on Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (IMIDs), today announced an exclusive license agreement with TNAX Biopharma Corporation (TNAX), an innovator in biotechnology. Under this agreement, TNAX is granting IMIDomics the worldwide rights to develop, manufacture, commercialize and sublicense IMB1001, a highly promising humanized antibody targeting CD226, a breakthrough target with the potential to treat IMIDs.

CD226 was identified by IMIDomics as a priority target using the company’s proprietary Clinical Discovery Engine™, a multidimensional, integrated, and data-driven platform for uncovering the underlying mechanisms of IMIDs. This identification of CD226 and the subsequent licensing of IMB1001, a promising preclinical drug candidate, validates IMIDomics’ approach to accelerating the development of treatments for these complex conditions.

“We are delighted to partner with TNAX to further advance the development of IMB1001,” said H. Daniel Perez, MD, Chief Development Officer of IMIDomics. “In licensing this promising new drug candidate, we are demonstrating our commitment to applying our proprietary Clinical Discovery Engine™ in service of discovering and developing impactful medicines for IMID patients and underscoring our confidence in the potential of this therapeutic candidate.”

Perez continued, saying, “TNAX’s expertise in CD226 makes them an ideal collaborator to bring this groundbreaking therapy to patients. This license reinforces our commitment to addressing unmet medical needs and improving the lives of individuals suffering from IMID-related conditions. The license of IMB1001 from TNAX accelerated our efforts to translate our scientific discoveries into meaningful therapeutic options. We are confident that IMIDomics’ resources and expertise will enable the development of this potentially life-changing therapy for patients worldwide.”

IMB1001 is a pre-clinical drug candidate with a one-of-a-kind mechanism of action that has potentially broad applicability across multiple diseases, especially for patients who do not respond to, or cannot tolerate, the current standard of care. IMIDomics aims to accelerate development of IMB1001 and maximize its application across multiple IMIDs.

IMB1001 specifically targets CD226, also known as DNAX accessory molecule-1 (DNAM-1), a transmembrane glycoprotein that plays a crucial role in the immune response, offering a promising avenue for effective treatment. Expression of the immunoreceptor CD226 and its ligand CD155 is negligible in healthy tissues, but both are significantly upregulated during the inflammatory response. IMB1001 blocks CD226 signaling thereby downregulating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, increasing levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines, and upregulating Treg function. Additionally, the mouse surrogate antibody TX42.2, also licensed to IMIDomics, demonstrated anti-fibrotic activity in animal models, indicating a disease-modifying effect.

The licensing agreement encompasses all patents, rights, and know-how related to the compound, including its use in both humans and animals. While the financial terms of the agreement remain confidential, it includes upfront payments, milestone achievements and royalties.

“We are excited to join forces with IMIDomics in the development of this exceptional humanized antibody targeting CD226,” said Tak Mukohira, CEO & Co-founder of TNAX. “This collaboration aligns perfectly with our mission to pioneer innovative therapies and transform patient outcomes.”

With the licensing agreement in place, IMIDomics and TNAX are poised to unlock the full therapeutic potential of IMB1001. Both companies look forward to a fruitful collaboration that will ultimately bring hope and improved treatment options to IMID patients in need.

About IMIDomics

IMIDomics is a biotechnology company focused on patient-centric drug discovery for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). Our goal is to discover new and impactful IMID drugs by focusing on carefully selected patients, and stratifying populations to identify those most likely to respond. IMIDomics is powered by a unique Clinical Discovery Engine™, which integrates and analyzes proprietary clinical, epidemiological and patient-derived biomolecular datasets, generated in partnership with the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Research, to establish a deeper understanding of IMID diseases. IMIDomics has identified previously unrecognized targets, six of which have been selected for development within IMIDomics’ active drug pipeline. By relying on access to well-defined patients and their clinically relevant samples, IMIDomics enhances the probability of successful IMID drug discovery and development for those in need.

To learn more about IMIDomics, please visit www.imidomics.com.

About TNAX

TNAX Biopharma Corporation (TNAX Biopharma) is a biopharmaceutical company that develops novel antibody therapeutics for unmet medical needs of patients with intractable diseases. The company develops mAb drugs targeting immunoreceptors and/or ligands, which play important roles in immunity and inflammation. TNAX101A acts in a pleiotropic, synergistic, and rippled way and inhibits innate and adaptive immunities. It collaborates with the University of Tsukuba to discover and develop its pipeline products. The company operates in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan and is headquartered in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

For more information, visit https://tnaxbio.com/.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Shani Lewis
Real Chemistry (On Behalf of IMIDomics)
slewis@realchemistry.com

AUG 02 2023

Matthias Preindl (right) and Wesley Pennington discuss software-defined power electronics in MPlab. Credit: Jane Nisselson/Columbia Engineering

Sparks flew — almost literally — when Matthias Preindl and Wesley Pennington met in 2018 through a colleague who was sure they would hit it off. Preindl, an associate professor of electrical engineering at Columbia Engineering, is a leading expert in designing next-generation power converters for electrification–from inverters for electric drives in a vehicle to onboard chargers. Pennington, the founder and CEO of Tau Motors, is focused on developing these advanced technology products as part of the company’s revolutionary technology platform. Both are determined to create efficient power conversion systems for a more sustainable future. With transportation marking the largest share of energy related emissions, the two are focused on making a meaningful and immediate impact through their work – and have big plans for the future.

Preindl and Pennington found a symmetry in the technology they were initially pursuing independently, as well as an aligned approach to innovation and development. The two quickly began to work together on projects in 2018, and launched an expanded collaboration just before the COVID pandemic hit. Between New York City and Silicon Valley, they obsessed over ways to leverage their expertise to expand and improve core technologies such as motors, inverters, onboard chargers, and electric vehicle (EV) drivetrains. 

It was clear to both that they needed to design more modern solutions to create the next-generation of products for electrification and essential to design options that are not only high-performance, but also scalable. The pair looked to pioneer technologies that solve power conversion challenges by tightly integrating software into hardware systems to replace volatile materials and expensive components. This software-defined approach works to reduce manufacturing costs, increase efficiency, and also decrease development times to deploy new products to market. 

As a result of their research collaboration, alongside their team of scientists, engineers, technologists, and operators, Tau’s platform was honored by Fast Company in 2022 with a “World Changing Idea” mention and, more recently, was placed on the publication’s 2023 top 100 Best Workplaces for Innovators list. Notably, Fast Company honored Tau as the number one “Small Company (Under 100 Employees).” 

As their research advanced over the years, so did their work together. They signed a portfolio license of power electronic technologies out of Preindl’s Motor Drives and Power Electronics Laboratory (MPlab) related to transportation electrification and renewables between Tau and Columbia University to extend Tau’s platform. They also developed a more formal long-term strategic partnership that further expands their research  collaboration with a commitment from Tau to accelerate power electronic research and impact. 

Ioannis (John) Kymissis, chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering, notes, “I think the collaboration between the MPlab and Tau follows a unique model which has the potential for significant impact in academic knowledge, the state of the art commercially, and in the experience for the students and post-docs involved.”

Tau’s funding offers significant support to advance the field for years to come and demonstrates a strong commitment to both scientific progress and the leading work at Columbia Engineering. The collaboration has already generated a number of published papers in top-ranked peer-reviewed scientific and engineering journals.

“With global warming speeding up, accelerating the industrialization of power electronic research and laboratory-scale technologies is of crucial importance. Our expertise and talent enable us to investigate next-generation ideas and pioneer cutting-edge technologies through research,” Preindl says, who credits the support of the Engineering School and Columbia Technology Ventures in recognizing the value and benefit of university-industry collaborations. “Our collaboration with Tau is a new approach for technology adoption and a streamlined lab-to-market model. It also provides us with real-world feedback and benchmarks.” 

“Creating new technologies also requires new approaches to development,” Pennington adds. “Tau’s work is fundamentally multidisciplinary, requiring broad perspective and input from a variety of fields and disciplines. The innovative program we’ve developed with Dr. Preindl allows Tau to pair our leading technologists from industry with the brightest researchers in the field at Columbia to pursue novel concepts and accelerate our mission to electrify the world. Together we are able to rapidly advance both technology and the field, while also providing mentorship and opportunities for emerging scientists and engineers.”

Inductor generations (2020 to 2024) for the MPlab Autoconverter Modules, the building blocks of software-defined power electronics. Credit: Jane Nisselson/Columbia Engineering

In Preindl’s lab, the team develops power electronic systems with a focus on motor drive systems and energy storage for EVs and their integration in electric grids with high penetration of renewable energy. His group is interested in designing next-generation electric powertrains–all the components that power a vehicle, from the battery to the motor. Preindl is hoping to transform the current technology by designing software-defined power electronic systems that are based on Lego-like interchangeable modules, called autoconverter modules (ACMs) which are the building blocks for soft-switching inverters and software-defined power electronics. 

MPlab researchers have developed a hierarchical protocol to define and control power converters by software: ACMs form the physical layer, real-time communication is the basis for the interconnection layer, and machine learning and optimization-based estimation and control techniques enable the application layer. 

The team has shown that the converters achieve a particularly high efficiency, well in excess of 99%, and reduce converter costs by solving key power electronic challenges locally in the ACM. Together with Tau, this technology is positioned to slash EV costs, increase their range, and reduce charging times. Their advancements in the design and control of these power electronic and motor drive systems also go beyond EVs, with applications in renewable energy and smart grids for higher efficiency and performance. 

Tau is a growth-stage advanced technology company, based in the Bay Area, that designs and develops next-generation products for electrification. Pennington founded the company because he believes that the key to a more sustainable future requires modern power conversion systems to increase the security of the world’s energy. Tau has pioneered technologies that leverage the company’s software-defined hardware platform to provide industry leading scale, economics, and performance. The company’s products include innovations across electric machines, power electronics, inverters, charging systems, controllers, and beyond.

“Electrification is reshaping the world and, with that, we have an opportunity to not just rethink the technologies that exist, but also how industry partners can help us build this new future,” Pennington says. “We are excited to work alongside our partners to bring new technologies and approaches to accelerate the transition to clean energy.”

The pair is focused on commercialization activities with large industry partners through Tau, where Preindl also serves as chief scientist of the company’s platform. What they are especially excited about is their ambitious research roadmap that includes an emphasis on performance, scale, and economics of new electric systems. Since 2018, the work in MPlab has continued to double the power density of their autoconverter modules approximately every two years. And they don’t see that slowing down.

“We’re really fired up about this collaboration,” Preindl adds. “Our unique partnership with Tau enables us to research and develop core concepts and advance them from concept through production and commercialization. And, ultimately, we hope to make a more sustainable world for future generations.”

45,000,000,000+ GEN AI CREATIONS AS OF Q2 2023

Our latest update includes a refreshed mapping (above) of the progress of different applications of generative AI, as well as our perspective on what’s next for the space; the funding environment; how generative AI is shaping future of work, particularly in Hollywood; continued concerns around unauthorized deepfakes; an engaging Q&A with generative AI expert Nina Schick on the regulatory landscape; and interesting activations we’re seeing in the field. 

In the past three months, we’ve seen an overall shift toward the center across our mapping, with several applications in both the upper and lower halves moving toward the x-axis. This is not to say the applications that have moved down are not maturing, but the pace at which that is happening might have slowed; likewise applications that have moved to the right of the page might mean refinement might be less of a focus in that particular area. Notably, chatbots continued to move up the y-axis.

If there’s one thing that’s clear, it’s that we have truly only reached the tip of the iceberg in terms of generative AI’s power to transform the creator economy. 

We begin on that note, with a dispatch from our recent conversations in Hollywood.

Generative AI is still in its nascent stages, but maturation is taking place. One area where this is especially true? The growing consensus that authenticating the inputs that train generative AI engines is necessary in order for widespread adoption of the technology to occur.

The reckoning on AI regulation is not here yet, but it is coming. And when that tide goes out, to paraphrase Warren Buffett, platforms that have relied on unauthorized training data will be caught swimming naked.  

With this in mind, we see the roadmap for products across the generative AI landscape going in the following direction:

Authenticating data from the start
Based on our recent conversations with platforms and IP holders — including actors, major studios, writers, digital creators, music labels, gaming companies, and more — it’s clear that no one wants to work with base data that has not been fully licensed. Starting on or doubling down on that path now will only result in legal headaches later on. And as regulations are put into place, solutions will be needed to enforce them quickly and accurately. Existing features like YouTube’s Content ID, for example, that allow copyright holders to identify material that uses content they own simply aren’t built to authenticate AI-generated content or derivatives. 

Development of engines for internal and external use
Adopting generative AI models allows IP holders to create their own engines, which can be used by their own teams to speed up and enhance creative processes and, crucially, be opened up for public use to allow fans to engage with beloved IP directly. 

Vertical integration comes to the creator economy
Engine-building is a watershed moment for content creators and owners, especially corporate ones. Up until now, IP holders have largely had to rely on third-party platforms to allow their fans to engage with their content digitally. Musicians and music labels, for instance, needed platforms like Spotify or Apple Music to bring their tunes to the digital marketplace. With generative AI, however, content creators and owners can build their own generative AI engines — in essence, owning the entire means of generative AI production and distribution, from the inputs (original content used as training data) to the outputs (derivatives made by the engines). Think of this as a digital equivalent of the Ford River Rouge complex, with hundreds springing up from IP holders around the world in the not-so-distant future.

Growing marketplace for AI-generated goods
As fans get access to external-facing engines, the opportunity — and demand — for the creation of digital and physical goods featuring AI-generated content will skyrocket. Fans will want to make their one-of-one creations into goods that no one else has: everything from NFTs and avatars to t-shirts and stickers — thereby opening up more revenue streams for the owners of the engines and original, authenticated content used to train them. 

The bottom line: With generative AI, there’s no need for content owners to engage a middleman in order to open their content up for fan engagement in the digital world. IP holders can engage with the creator economy directly, on generative AI platforms that they own and control, if they invest the time and resources into building their own engines. And as this happens, IP holders will become more and more averse to commingling their IP — that is, allowing their content to be fed into engines that draw upon content from other creators and owners as well, resulting in outputs that are composites of multiple owners’/creators’ styles rather than styles that are uniquely theirs.

To that end, the debate around whether open source or closed technology will dominate the future is a bit misguided. We will see a mix of both, and flip-flops from one to the other. For instance, a company might “open” proprietary technology to allow more people to engage with it, and open source tech might become “closed” for the purposes of monetization.

Expect to see more — and farther-reaching — activations like the first-of-its-kind Spider-Verse AI engine our team at Vermillio created in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment.

The engine empowers Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse fans globally to create their own “Spidersona”, a one-of-a-kind digital version of themselves in the animation style of and in partnership with Spider-Verse artists.

The Spidersona engine is trained exclusively on original, authenticated content from the Spider-Verse films, with thousands of film images and franchise-specific details such as color palettes and lighting. Our platform allows users to seamlessly verify and authenticate who has created what content and where the content is coming from, protecting the rights of creators and IP owners. To date, more than 1.5 million Spidersonas have been created.

Investments in the generative AI space in Q2 have not slowed down. In fact, according to PitchBook more than $12 billion worth of deals were announced or completed in Q1 alone. Roughly $1.7 billion was generated across 46 deals in Q1 2023 and an additional $10.68 billion worth of deals were announced in the same quarter but are yet to be completed.

In late June, the AWS cloud unit announced they would be allocating $100 million for a center to help companies use generative AI. Although a small investment for AWS, the announcement demonstrates that AWS recognizes the significance of the current moment in generative AI and doesn’t want to be left behind by rivals Microsoft and Google.

Even more impressive was Databricks’ recent announcement that they are acquiring AI startup MosaicML in a mostly stock deal valued at $1.3 billion. Databricks is focused on bringing down the cost of using generative AI — from tens of millions to hundreds of thousands of dollars per model — meaning that smaller companies can offer similar AI models, but customized with a company’s data at a lower cost.  

The video game computer chip maker Nvidia’s stock has tripled this year thanks to the AI boom, briefly gaining a trillion-dollar valuation. Nvidia’s GPU chips are well suited to crunching huge amounts of data necessary to train cutting edge generative AI programs.

As investments in the generative AI space continue at a rapid pace and these tools become more commonplace in our society, there are strong global implications for wealth and efficiency.

According to Goldman Sachs, these tools could drive a 7% or almost $7 trillion increase in global GDP and lift productivity growth by 1.5 percentage points in a 10-year period.

When it comes to the Future of Work and generative AI, the conversation is still centered around AI replacing jobs whereas it should be centered around enhancing creativity. In the visual arts space we are already seeing artists starting to create generative versions of their artwork. The value of their artwork that they drew themselves or painted themselves is going up exponentially. And the reason for that is that the human touch is becoming more and more valuable.

In Hollywood, although there are other issues at play in the writers’ and actors’ strikes, the guild’s actions show that generative AI is already starting to shape labor discussions and movements, as these are the first large-scale attempts by  labor unions to pressure an industry to regulate and, in some cases, restrict applications of AI that could be used to replace workers.

Elsewhere in Hollywood, the Directors Guild and top studios and streamers struck a tentative deal on a new three-year labor contract. The agreement confirmed that AI is not a person and that generative AI cannot replace the duties performed by DGA members and we could not agree more. We’re pleased with this significant milestone that will only take creativity to the next level. 

We adamantly believe that generative AI at its best will enhance creativity and productivity.

In fact, we believe that most creators — including writers — will eventually want their own personalized engines to use as a tool to brainstorm, test ideas, prompt new thinking, and more for infinite inspiration. Think about having your own machine to assist you in the creative process, providing inspiration from a number of different angles. Personalized engines and the hypercharged creativity that comes with them are the logical next step.  

However — crucially — we believe this can only be done if generative AI is Authenticated AI.

Without it, there’s real concern that creators’ work will get ripped off by companies using their content to train their engines. If everyone gets around the table with Authenticated AI, creatives will be fairly credited and compensated for their work and the opportunities for Hollywood and beyond are truly endless.  

Season 7 of Black Mirror opens with a parable about the dangers of AI: an average woman is horrified when she learns that a global streaming platform has launched a prestige TV drama adaptation of her life. The episode is fairly realistic in its depiction of AI’s capabilities. The woman’s data has been ingested by a personalized engine that generates video content, nearly in real time. If such functionalities aren’t possible yet they may be soon.

Black Mirror is tapping into fears about how AI will interact with our data. Sucked into large models and spit back out in new forms, our 0s and 1s can be transformed into new shapes that belie their origins. In “deepfakes”, we can be made to appear to do things we never would in real life.

Deepfakes have already permeated our political life (for example, worries about how a flood of AI-generated fake videos will spread misinformation in the 2024 election) — and new concerns about identity theft are cropping up, too.  

The EU AI Act’s framework attempts some protectionary guidance, requiring developers to publish summaries of copyrighted data used for training purposes, so that creators can be remunerated for the use of their work. But the act may go too far, unnecessarily curtailing innovation by placing disproportionate compliance costs and liability risks on developers. 

However, that’s not to say there’s no upside to this technology. As celebrities have less time, generative AI and deepfakes can help them continue to connect to their fans. Think about birthday messages from your favorite celeb, but instead of them having to record it themselves, AI technology does it for them.

As outlined above, tech may solve many of the same problems without sacrificing a strong innovation environment. The ability to license training data will protect individual users and creators, propelling AI forward into a new era of safe, personalized use. 

Though no country seems to have cracked the code yet on how best to regulate generative AI, there have been some interesting developments in the past quarter in the regulatory landscape, particularly in the UK and Europe. To shed light on this, Vermillio’s co-founder and CEO Dan Neely sat down with UK-based generative AI expert Nina Schick.

The EU’s AI Act requires providers and users of AI to comply with new rules on data and data governance. How do you see that playing out, concretely?

I think this is ultimately the million-dollar question when it comes to EU regulation. There’s no doubt that the EU is leading on AI regulation — the EU’s AI Act is the first transnational piece of regulation focused on artificial intelligence. Although it has been in the works for numerous years, there was no mention of generative AI until ChatGPT came out in November of last year. Now, policymakers understand that this is going to be a huge deal, so they have gone back and are busy redrafting it.

As the current draft stands, it will be up to the companies and the builders of foundational models — anyone using generative AI models — to show that they have identified and mitigated risks in a whole host of categories. These categories of risks include rule of law, democracy, and the environment. When this actually comes into force in 2026, the compliance will be extremely difficult for SMEs and startups. I think the best way I’ve heard this described is that this would be like GDPR on steroids.

The fears around the EU’s AI Act is that it is actually going to stifle innovation. In part, we are already seeing that in Europe — you don’t see huge tech success stories coming out of that region.

There are some gaps and omissions in the new act, namely around requirements to inform people who are subjected to algorithmic assessments. Do you think tech has a role to play in offering solutions where legislation cannot?

Absolutely! It is really interesting to see how tech, enterprises, and private companies are involved in setting the pace of this societal change — and how private enterprises have been deeply focused on how to regulate the harms of and potential misuses of generative AI in our society. I suppose this is because when you consider the last 30 years and the dawn of the internet, we had a certain kind of naivete. We didn’t understand how radically everything was going to be transformed by technology, whether it was our economy, society, or the individual experience – 30 years on that kind of naivete just doesn’t exist.

Now, there’s a deep understanding that generative AI is going to have a huge impact and it’s incumbent on the industry to also ensure these technologies are being rolled out ethically, safely, and responsibly. In part that has to do with the fact that the acceleration of the technology is literally exponential. The scale and pace of the technology — along with a lack of regulators with AI expertise — means that rulemaking is a tricky challenge. There’s space and a need for industry leaders to drive the conversation.

You and I have spoken a lot about the need for authenticated AI — that is, for some way of verifying AI-generated images and their derivatives so that work can be properly attributed and owned — and so that everyone can be fairly credited and compensated for what they create. Do you think the AI Act will drive AI in that direction?

Definitely. That’s one thing that’s really exciting about the EU’s AI Act and the broader conversations that are happening at the level of the nation-state about responsible and ethical uses of AI. The belief that there should be transparency at the core of synthetic generations is really gathering speed. Vermillio’s work is the perfect example of the role industry is playing — the work you are doing [around Authenticated AI] is something that regulators and policymakers are catching up to. They are starting to see value in ensuring that this becomes the operational mode in which you can create AI-generated content.

The drafting of the EU’s AI Act right now stipulates that there should be transparency around where the content came from, but then there’s another step to go which is about authenticated AI to have ownership and fair business models for creators. They haven’t caught up totally, but they are already grasping at the idea of transparency and lineage.

Let’s move now to the UK. Last week, OpenAI announced a plan to open its first foreign office in London. Why do you think Altman and team chose the UK — even knowing they’ll have to contend with post-Brexit talent hurdles?

Generally speaking, the UK tends to punch above its weight when it comes to AI. In part that has to do with the research community here with the excellent universities in the UK — such as Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial — that have traditionally had great talent pools.

Some of the really cool startups in the Gen AI space are also based in London. There is not as much investment and funding as in the US but you have a good access point to the European ecosystem. 

I’m sure that the UK pitched itself as being the low-regulation or smart regulation innovation hub centered just outside of the European Union. Sunak and the rest of the British government are positioning themselves as a stepping stone to the rest of the world — the bridge between the US and China, an entry point to Europe, and a place where startups and tech companies will be well received.

That being said, the biggest hurdle for the UK is the talent question. Immigration has become such a huge problem in the UK; it was one of the main drivers of the Brexit vote. Since Brexit, immigration from the EU has come down. This is problematic for tech companies because now the UK doesn’t have free access to European talent and it’s really difficult to get visas.

You’ve written about how the UK punches above its weight when it comes to AI research and start-ups. What are the conditions on the ground there enabling that outsized innovation?

There are six aspects of the UK that are enabling outsized innovation. These include:

I’ve also been hearing more about the so-called “AI arms race” between China and the US. Over-hyped or real?

 I think it’s definitely an arms race, especially when you consider the direct applications in military and national security. Whoever has the AI dominance is undoubtedly going to be the geopolitical leader in the world because of all the potential economic abundance associated with that position.

That being said, though China is certainly taking generative AI seriously, when you look at what’s been happening in the last few years in generative AI, all the innovation has come from the West. It hasn’t come from China, which is really interesting. And, if you look at the flourishing research and open source community it is centered around the US, Europe, and Eastern Europe.

If you look at the sheer amount of innovation and money that is being poured into AI in the US vs. China, the US is miles ahead. It’s already something like almost $30 billion of private investment in AI until June this year, whereas in China that figure was $4 billion. And if you look at the rest of the world, the US is still the biggest chunk.

We’re starting to see the geopolitical implications of the latest phase of tech competition between the US and China play out in the semiconductor business. Nvidia created their A800 chip to get around the embargo on the export of US chips to China, but it looks like a tranche of regulations is coming into place where not only will the A800 no longer be exported to China but they’re also going to shut down Chinese companies’ abilities to access compute through cloud. Of course, that will have an impact on US companies that are providing services either for cloud or the actual hardware in China.

And China has a different philosophy on how these technologies might be used. A recent piece from Andreesen Horowitz explores that difference of vision. China is interested in using this tech for control of citizens vs. freedom of citizens, which will come to bear on the regulatory front as well.  

Yes… [With generative AI] a state would have the ultimate tools on hand to build the techno-authoritarian state. 

How might the geopolitical competition shape the development of AI? (i.e., will we see a near-term focus on chip production at the expense of personalized engines?)

 I think one of the really interesting, decisive factors is going to be how different public opinion is.

According to global polls on AI, 80% of Chinese civilians believe AI is a good thing, whereas American civilians are wary of AI. I’m sure that this sentiment is only going to increase when the automation of layers of white collar work is going to start to happen. Gen AI is not just about content, it’s also about efficiency and instruction and the way that is going to be rolled out when it comes to knowledge work is going to be potentially seismic.

Goldman Sachs predicted 300 million jobs would be automated or lost, which doesn’t account for how many new jobs will be created. But the headline fact is there is going to be huge disruption when it comes to white collar jobs and knowledge work.

If that becomes a hot political topic, as I suspect it might, you might really start to see public sentiment crystallize around AI being a negative force. 

This issue is going to play out on lots of  different levels. I think in the geopolitical race to get ahead there’s no doubt that China wants to be able to develop and build its own hardware. They want to be able to build their own chips, but the question is will they be able to do so.

On the other level, which is just creating companies and experiences that consumers and people want, is that going to go full steam ahead? I think so. I don’t think you can put innovation back once it is out of the bottle. 

We are already seeing innovative activations that allow fans to engage with content that has been made available by owners and creators. Here are some of the most interesting activations so far in the Authenticated AI space:

In early April, visual artist Chad Nelson created a five-minute animated film, titled “Critterz” using images exclusively generated by the AI tool, DALL-E.

One activation we didn’t include in our Q1 “i” update but is too big not to highlight this time: In February of this year, David Guetta used generative AI to add the “voice” of Eminem to one of his songs — proving to the industry just how well the technology works. Although the record was intended as a prank, it serves as yet another reminder of the need for authenticated AI, across all forms of creative media: text, audio, image, and video.

Move.ai enables creators to capture their own movement and convert that content into motion in the digital world. They recently launched The Invisible solution in partnership with another company called disguise. Invisible makes it faster, easier, and more cost effective to have live motion capture in broadcast, immersive installations, live events, and XR film.

Pixelynx is building a leading music metaverse ecosystem, meaning they are developing an ecosystem of products that will help artists and fans express their ideas and showcase their fandom in new ways. Their project, Korus, gives users access to an AI musical companion that allows creators to have the power to pay, create, and remix music.

We recently partnered with Sony Pictures Entertainment to launch a first-of-its-kind generative AI engine trained on original, authenticated content from the Spider-Verse films — marking the first time a major studio is using generative AI at this scale.

Make your own Spidersona here if you haven’t already!

NEWS PROVIDED BYTau Motors, Inc. 

13 Jul, 2023, 09:33 ET

Joining Adobe, Spotify, Nvidia, Morgan Stanley, and many others  

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., July 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Tau Motors, an advanced technology company that develops next-generation products for electrification, was featured on Fast Company’s fifth annual Best Workplaces for Innovators list. Honoring organizations and businesses that demonstrate an inspiring commitment to innovation at all levels, Tau was included at No. 51 overall and also topped the list as the winner of the Small Companies (Under 100 Employees) category.

Developed in collaboration with Accenture, the 2023 Best Workplaces for Innovators ranks 100 winners from a variety of industries, including entertainment, biotech, consumer packaged goods, education, healthcare, technology, and many more. Fast Company editors, Accenture researchers, and a panel of distinguished judges reviewed and endorsed the top 100 companies out of nearly 1,000 candidates. The 2023 awards feature workplaces from around the world with measurable, visible results in their efforts to cultivate internal innovation that creates external impact.

Tau is leading groundbreaking work to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our generation.Post this

“Alongside our partners, Tau is leading groundbreaking work to tackle some of the most pressing challenges of our generation,” says Wesley Pennington, Tau Founder and CEO. “We built the company because we believe the key to a more sustainable future requires modern power conversion systems that are more scalable and efficient. The work we do is made possible by our mission-aligned team, who are an inspiration every day and make the company such a special place to be a part of. Together we have made Tau a platform for innovation, providing a culture that encourages exploration, iteration, diversity, and inclusion.”

Fast Company honored Tau based on its revolutionary power conversion platform, which is posed to disrupt multiple industries and reshape the world’s energy in applications ranging from electric vehicles to the grid. The company is initially focused on the electrification of transportation where its technology platform provides industry leading scale, economics, and performance.

Tau’s work is fundamentally multidisciplinary, requiring broad perspective and input from a variety of fields and disciplines. The company’s commitment to innovation and scientific progress includes a long-term advanced research partnership alongside the Chief Scientist of Tau’s platform, Matthias Preindl, PhD, who also leads Columbia University’s Motor Drive and Power Electronic Lab. This innovative program allows Tau to pursue novel concepts that require a fundamental research component. Through the collaboration, the team is able to advance both the technology and the field while supporting leading research and providing opportunities for emerging scientists and engineers.

To see the complete list, go to https://www.fastcompany.com/best-workplaces-for-innovators/list and for the category honors  go to https://www.fastcompany.com/90919608/tau-motors-recognized-for-innovation.

Fast Company‘s Best Workplaces for Innovators issue (Summer 2023) is available online now, and the print issue will be on newsstands beginning July 18, 2023.

About Tau
Tau Motors, Inc. is an advanced technology company that designs and develops next-generation products for electrification. Tau has pioneered technologies that leverage the company’s software-defined hardware platform to provide industry leading scale, economics, and performance. The company’s products include innovations across electric machines, power electronics, inverters, charging systems, controllers, and beyond. As a technology company, Tau partners with industry to develop and deploy products on the company’s platform. At its core, Tau is made of exceptionally talented people – and we are hiring! Visit us at taumotors.com.

About Fast Company
Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication Inc., and can be found online at www.fastcompany.com.

About Accenture
Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud, and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Technology and Operations services, and Accenture Song—all powered by the world’s largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our 710,000 people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners, and communities. Visit us at accenture.com.

SOURCE Tau Motors, Inc.

Following incredibly strong consumer response, Hero Bread™ will expand distribution, first in Sprouts Farmers Market, followed by Albertsons in addition to other large retailers and continued availability online at hero.co and Amazon

SAN FRANCISCO, May 2, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Today, on the heels of their Series B fundraise, bringing total funding to date to $47.5M, Hero Bread™ is announcing the national retail launch of their revolutionary better-for-you bread and baked goods. Driven by a massive 54% consumer repeat purchase rate in the first five months on grocery shelves, Hero Bread™ is expanding distribution from 23 to 2,300 grocery retail stores with further growth expected in the back half of the year.

Amidst the challenging fundraising environment with many investors slowing their deployment of capital, strong sales of Hero Bread™ online and in regional grocery retailers demonstrated huge momentum to investors. The proceeds from the raise will be used to accelerate expanded availability of Hero Bread’s groundbreaking product line in grocery retail as well as support future product innovation. Cleveland Avenue, DNS Capital, Union Grove Venture Partners, Composite Ventures, GreatPoint Ventures and The D’Amelio Family Fund, 444 Capital, invested in the round, bringing total funding to date to $47.5M.

“444 Capital is joining Hero Bread™ and fellow like-minded investors to revolutionize the baking category and help people on their journey to lead healthier lives,” said Heidi D’Amelio, mother of social media and reality TV stars Charli and Dixie D’Amelio. “We look forward to supporting their continued expansion and growth by making better-for-you baked goods not only accessible but delicious.”

Hero Bread™ disrupted the bread and baked goods category when it launched in 2021 and has been able to parlay rapid growth selling direct to consumers online into success in the retail channel. Hero Bread™ has previously been available on Amazon.com, where both the Hero Classic White Bread and Hero Classic Burger Buns quickly rose to become #1 Amazon best-sellers. Since launching direct to consumer sales in April 2022 at hero.co, 74% of purchasers have made a repeat purchase and 87% of the over 6,000 reviews to date rate Hero Bread™ products 5 out of 5 stars. In late 2022, Hero Bread™ launched for the first time in the retail channel and the repeat purchase rate is already 54% in the first five months on the shelves, with sales velocity surpassing expectations.

“This new funding will be essential to expanding our reach and fueling product innovation so we can further our mission of creating game-changing bread and baked goods,” said Founder and CEO of Hero Bread™, Cole Glass, “Our early performance in the direct-to-consumer and grocery retail channels signaled to investors the incredible demand and quality of our products, so our priority going forward this year is accelerating availability to meet consumer demand both online and in retail.”

Now, driven by massive product demand, Hero Bread™ is announcing its first natural channel distribution and first national retail launch at Sprouts Farmers Market, followed by launches in regional grocers Albertsons (across Texas & Louisiana), Tom Thumb, Randall’s, Heinen’s, and Buehler’s Fresh Foods, in addition to other large retailers. By end-of-May, Hero Bread’s most popular products will be available in 2,300 grocery stores across 32 states. Find Hero Bread™ at a retailer near you: www.hero.co/retail.

Consumers craving delicious bread and baked goods can continue to find Hero Bread™ products at all Just Salad and Freebirds World Burrito locations. Visit hero.co/find to find Hero Bread™ products at a restaurant or grocery store near you. For additional details on what Hero Bread™ is cooking up next, follow @hero on Instagram and Twitter, and @EatHeroBread on Facebook.

About Hero Bread™
Hero Bread™ is a San Francisco-based food innovation company, on a journey to help make humans more healthy and happier by evolving the joyful experience of bread and baked goods. Hero Bread™ products are just as delicious as the original but with 0-2g net carbs, 0g sugar, fewer calories and more protein and fiber per serving than the traditional version. Led by Founder and CEO Cole Glass, Hero Bread™ is backed by a roster of institutional strategic investors as well as seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman’s Thirty Five Ventures, Diamond-selling artist The Weeknd, and multi-platinum artist Lil Baby. Hero Bread™ products are available via the company’s website at hero.co, as well as Amazon.com, WalMart.com and in 2,300 retail locations across 32 states. Visit hero.co/find to find Hero Bread™ products at a restaurant or grocery store near you.