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The AI Lab Revolutionizing Smell

The AI Lab Revolutionizing Smell

42 segments available

(00:00:00) Welcome to Invest Like the Best (00:04:25) Introduction to Plum 1.0 (00:06:20) Synthetic Chemistry & OI (00:07:09) Perfumer's Organ & Fragrance Creation (00:08:03) Launching Generation Fragrance House (00:09:15) The Fragrance Design Process (00:12:04) AI and Olfactory Intelligence (00:14:59) The GCMS Machine (00:22:08) The Scent Printer (00:26:47) The Journey of a Fragrance Enthusiast (00:30:47) The Unsolved Problem of Scent (00:32:45) Applying AI to the World of Scent (00:33:17) Validating AI Predictions with Double-Blind Trials (00:39:42) The Emotional Power of Scent (00:49:01) Challenges & Future Prospects (00:59:08) The Defining Moment: Digitizing Smell (01:00:41) The Kindest Thing Anyone Has Ever Done For Alex My guest today is Alex Wiltschko. Alex is the founder and CEO of Osmo, a science and technology company giving computers a sense of smell. He set out on a mission to digitize our sense of smell and he describes how Osmo is teaching computers to both read and write scent. Alex was kind enough to walk me through the laboratory which you can watch in the video version of this interview on Youtube and Spotify, where he demonstrates their method to the madness. We discuss their first commercial application, Generation, which is revolutionizing the fragrance industry by dramatically accelerating the typically years-long process of custom scent creation. We discuss all of the potential business implications this technology unlocks, applications ranging from counterfeit detection to health monitoring, and creating a cutting-edge proprietary platform in a historically routine industry. Please enjoy my conversation with Alex Wiltschko. Presented by Ramp: https://ramp.com/business-cards?utm_s... Sponsored by AlphaSense and Ridgeline: https://www.alpha-sense.com/invest/ https://www.ridgelineapps.com/ https://joincolossus.com/series/inves.... Full Transcript and Show Notes: https://joincolossus.com/episode/giving-computers-a-sense-of-smell/ Patrick O'Shaughnessy: https://x.com/patrick_oshag ****** Patrick O'Shaughnessy is the CEO of Positive Sum. All opinions expressed by Patrick and podcast guests are solely their own and do not reflect the opinion of Positive Sum. This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a basis for investment decisions. Clients of Positive Sum may maintain positions in the securities discussed in this podcast. To learn more, visit psum.vc

Segments Timeline

1
0:00 - 4:25
4:25 duration849 words

The Power of Scent Recognition

In this segment, Patrick O'Shaughnessy introduces the concept of scent recognition by demonstrating a simple test with two identical vials. He highlights the challenge of distinguishing between authentic and counterfeit scents, setting the stage for a deeper discussion on the significance of scent in various industries.

"I want you to hold this in your right hand and smell inside of it and I want you to hold this in your left hand and smell inside of it and I want you to look at them can you tell the difference betwee..."

2
4:25 - 6:20
1:55 duration371 words

Introducing Plum 1.0

Alex Wiltschko introduces Plum 1.0, the first scent that was digitized and reconstituted. He describes the essence of a fresh summer plum and the groundbreaking technology behind capturing and recreating scent experiences, emphasizing the historical significance of this achievement.

"Plum and in this this vial this kind of clear liquid is probably thousands or tens of thousands of sniffs worth of this one moment of biting into a fresh summer Plum and then what we're showing here i..."

3
6:20 - 7:09
0:49 duration175 words

Synthetic Chemistry in Scent Creation

Wiltschko explains the role of synthetic chemistry in creating new scent molecules. He discusses how Osmo uses olfactory intelligence (OI) to design fragrances that meet specific customer needs, showcasing the innovative approach to fragrance development.

"we use AI but when it's applied to ol faction we call it oi or olfactory intelligence so we use oi to design new molec tools which we then synthesize with our synthetic chemistry team smell them they ..."

4
7:09 - 8:03
0:54 duration176 words

The Fragrance Design Process

In this segment, Wiltschko elaborates on the fragrance design process at Osmo, highlighting the collaboration between AI and human perfumers. He introduces Generation, a new fragrance house that aims to democratize scent creation, making it accessible and efficient for creators.

"smell of you know a clean kitchen uh was created from some of these ingredients so 90% of the products in your home have a fragrance and every single one of those fragrances was crafted by an individu..."

5
8:03 - 9:15
1:12 duration275 words

Custom Fragrance Creation for Influencers

Wiltschko discusses how Osmo is helping influencers create custom fragrances that resonate with their brand values. He explains the streamlined process of fragrance design, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and technology in bringing unique scents to market.

"we're doing uh with this scent is this is a scent that we custom design for a Creator so someone who has a very large active audience on Instagram has like a really great Rapport and a brand frankly b..."

6
9:15 - 10:47
1:32 duration335 words

Revolutionizing the Fragrance Brief Process

This segment covers the traditional fragrance brief process and how Osmo is transforming it. Wiltschko explains the inefficiencies of the current system and how they are leveraging AI to create a more dynamic and responsive fragrance design experience.

"what's called a brief so a brief um in other Industries would be called a request for proposal or an RFP and it can be anything so it's actually very very free form in this industry that itself could ..."

7
10:47 - 12:01
1:14 duration262 words

AI-Driven Fragrance Design

Wiltschko dives deeper into how AI is integrated into the fragrance design process at Osmo. He describes the internal tools that facilitate fragrance creation, showcasing how technology can enhance creativity and efficiency in the fragrance industry.

"and you say actually I want something that's really custom so you know what you you're a sophisticated buyer you say don't give me a library sample now you're looking at like a 12 to 18 month process ..."

8
12:01 - 14:01
2:00 duration386 words

The Future of Scent Technology

In this forward-looking segment, Wiltschko discusses the potential future of scent technology, including the possibility of portable devices that can read and capture scents. He envisions a world where scent experiences can be instantly shared and recreated, revolutionizing how we interact with fragrances.

"that um so we can design a fragrance this is like a internal beta so we have a a tool so let's make would you want to make a Colossus fragrance sure great all right so um a fragrance for Colossus what..."

9
14:01 - 15:00
0:58 duration192 words

Understanding the GCMS Machine

Alex introduces the Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GCMS) machine, likening it to a camera for the molecular world. He explains how the machine analyzes scents at a molecular level, separating and weighing individual molecules to create a comprehensive scent profile. This technology is crucial for Osmo's mission to digitize and recreate scents accurately.

"you know minutes how long do you think it will be until there's literally something sitting here that the the feedback loop is more or less instantaneous the mountain peak is something you can hold in..."

10
15:00 - 16:01
1:01 duration217 words

Automating Scent Analysis

In this segment, Alex discusses how Osmo has automated the interpretation of scent data, traditionally a manual process. He highlights the challenges of identifying primary smells and the importance of teaching machines to understand complex scent compositions. This automation is key to advancing the digitization of scent and enhancing the capabilities of AI in this field.

"you're shoving the smell through that cable and what you're trying to make this smell do is um like runners in a marathon so every molecule in that scent is all clumped together and you experience tha..."

11
16:01 - 17:10
1:08 duration233 words

The Future of Scent Creation

Alex shares insights on the future of scent technology, discussing the potential for creating new scents and the importance of having a comprehensive library of primary odors. He emphasizes the need for flexibility in scent creation, allowing for real-time mixing of ingredients to produce unique olfactory experiences. This innovation could revolutionize industries reliant on scent, from fragrances to food.

"software so that's a part of our oi system so how much does the uh individual Atomic unit of smell differ from the combinations like if I think about like the color like primary colors or something th..."

12
17:10 - 18:10
1:00 duration217 words

The Role of AI in Scent Development

In this segment, Alex elaborates on how AI plays a crucial role in scent development at Osmo. He explains the process of active learning, where the AI system improves by creating and analyzing new scents. This iterative process allows for rapid advancements in scent technology, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in olfactory experiences.

"you know an osmo machine yeah I'll show what what we're doing so these machines are great and what we're not going to do is we're not going to change the hardware because there's about a there's 12 no..."

13
18:10 - 19:06
0:55 duration196 words

Innovations in Scent Analysis

Alex introduces a more advanced scent analysis machine that can analyze various materials without needing to inject liquids. He explains how this technology allows for the analysis of a wide range of scents, including flowers and fruits, by capturing and concentrating their aromas. This innovation enhances Osmo's ability to digitize and recreate scents accurately.

"bready radish or something like that do you yourself have an abnormally good sense of smell you know uh We've brought a lot of people into osmo that have like truly world-class noses and so I can say ..."

14
19:06 - 20:01
0:55 duration203 words

The Scent Printer: A New Frontier

Alex discusses the scent printer, a device that mixes source smells to create destination scents, similar to how an inkjet printer works. He explains how this technology is integral to training Osmo's AI system, allowing for the creation of a wide variety of scents. This advancement represents a significant step forward in the ability to digitally recreate olfactory experiences.

"move that needle and you inject it into the spectrometer and it uses a flash of heat to remove all those molecules it kind of develops the film and then the normal machine runs we analyze that data wi..."

15
20:01 - 21:14
1:12 duration267 words

Measuring Scent Fidelity

In this segment, Alex addresses the challenge of measuring the fidelity of recreated scents compared to their original counterparts. He explains the process of comparing real scents with their digital recreations, emphasizing the importance of reliable data in refining the technology. This segment highlights the ongoing efforts to perfect scent digitization and the potential applications in various industries.

"smell them one by one by putting your nose on here it's kind of like a debugger for software wow so this is called a GCO or gas chromatograph olfactometer but when we really want to understand the sme..."

16
21:14 - 22:09
0:55 duration199 words

The Emotional Connection to Scent

Alex reflects on the emotional aspects of scent and how it influences human experiences. He shares anecdotes about the challenges of recreating scents that evoke specific memories and emotions. This segment underscores the significance of scent in our lives and the potential for technology to enhance our emotional connections to olfactory experiences.

"that's what we do and then I will show you where the writing happens I just had a thought which is I I I wish at some point that video could capture the smells as we're going yeah but if if he's succe..."

17
22:09 - 23:06
0:56 duration217 words

The Ambition Trail Fragrance

Alex introduces the Ambition Trail fragrance, designed to capture the essence of determination and discovery. He describes the fragrance's notes and how it aligns with Osmo's mission to inspire creativity and innovation. This segment illustrates the intersection of scent, emotion, and technology in the context of Osmo's work.

"need to train the AI system so this is the writing part of the AI training Loop so you saw the sensors that read it you saw the sensory panel that smells it at least the domestic one you didn't see th..."

18
23:06 - 24:00
0:54 duration193 words

The Future of Scent Technology

In the concluding segment, Alex discusses the future implications of scent technology, including its potential applications in various industries. He emphasizes the importance of creating a versatile scent platform that can cater to diverse needs, from personal fragrances to household products. This vision encapsulates the transformative potential of digitizing scent.

"trying to recreate a memory that you have like we either did it or we didn't we we were just with a very famous uh Hollywood person who said in the 80s they tried to do this in theaters where they wou..."

19
24:10 - 25:01
0:50 duration206 words

The Emotional Journey of Scent Creation

Alex Wiltschko discusses the iterative process of creating scents with AI, emphasizing the emotional connection between humans and machines in fragrance design. He shares how initial failures lead to breakthroughs, illustrating the gradual acceptance of AI-generated scents by customers.

"once you just get started you're like oh we're actually making progress and so the idea of like creating sense with AI and creating those sense in partnership with people and like fusing human and mac..."

20
25:01 - 26:00
0:58 duration216 words

The Ambition Trail Fragrance

In this segment, Alex introduces the 'Ambition Trail' fragrance, inspired by determination and discovery. He explains the fragrance's notes and how the olfactory intelligence system aims to create a complete scent experience, hinting at the future of scent design in various products.

"portable right now we can move it around we could deploy it I don't think you can say it's portable today and then you saw the scent printer which is half the size of this table right we've got a lot ..."

21
26:00 - 27:01
1:01 duration190 words

The Future of Scent Design

Alex outlines the potential for consumers to design their own scents using Osmo's technology. He discusses the implications for various industries, including candles and detergents, and how Generation aims to democratize scent creation for everyone.

"delivering y that like people will be able to design sense very soon absolutely so that we are rolling generation is generation is yeah generation is our business to open up scent design to more peopl..."

22
27:01 - 28:06
1:05 duration197 words

From Computer Nerd to Perfume Enthusiast

Alex shares his personal journey from a young computer enthusiast to a fragrance collector. He reflects on how fragrances can alter perceptions and social interactions, sparking his fascination with the art of scent and its emotional impact.

"invisible thing on them would all of a sudden be treated differently by everybody around them but within this little radius right so like it just it was this magic potion Spell combination that when y..."

23
28:06 - 29:22
1:15 duration255 words

The Art of Fragrance Unfolding

In this segment, Alex describes his first encounter with a fragrance that unfolds over time, illustrating the complexity and artistry involved in scent creation. He emphasizes the emotional connection and storytelling aspect of fragrances.

"um but then I realized there's not just two or three fragrances there's tens of thousands and it was like discovering that movies exist and you can go into the movie theater and there's nobody watchin..."

24
29:22 - 30:05
0:43 duration144 words

The Science Behind Smell

Alex discusses his academic background in neuroscience and how it led him to explore olfactory neuroscience. He highlights the ongoing mystery of how smells are processed in the brain and the challenges faced in understanding scent.

"just completely hooked and you know I the way that my brain works wanted to understand like where it came from How It Was Made how the brain processes it the way that it does I think if I was born in ..."

25
30:05 - 31:03
0:58 duration196 words

AI Meets Chemistry: A Breakthrough

Alex explains the breakthrough in applying AI to chemistry, particularly in understanding scent. He discusses the development of graph neural networks and how they revolutionized the ability to predict smells based on molecular structures.

"we're learning things but like a simple question like let me draw a molecule on the Whiteboard like we're in chemistry class can you look at that molecule and tell me what it's going to smell like wil..."

26
31:03 - 32:26
1:22 duration267 words

Validating AI Predictions in Scent

In this segment, Alex details the rigorous validation process for AI predictions of scents through double-blind trials. He shares how their AI outperformed human panelists, marking a significant milestone in digitizing the sense of smell.

"recruited away to Google brain which is now called Google Deep Mind which is kind of their Xerox park or Bell labs and um I worked on some internal projects for a bit but after a year or so I said you..."

27
32:26 - 33:17
0:51 duration168 words

The Future of Smell Digitization

Alex discusses the implications of successfully digitizing smell, including the potential to recreate scents from sensory data. He envisions a future where AI can generate new fragrances based on various inputs, transforming the fragrance industry.

"I knew where to get the data sets where to buy them where to license them how to treat them and we Fus those two things together and I was fortunate enough to work with an incredibly talented team of ..."

28
33:17 - 34:03
0:45 duration160 words

The Journey of AI in Scent Creation

Alex reflects on the journey of integrating AI into scent creation, emphasizing the collaboration between technology and human creativity. He discusses the transformative potential of AI in the fragrance industry and beyond.

"like what we do now but just um initially it was at a smaller scale train people to smell something and say okay this smells fruity and mineral and that's it so I'll give it a a three out of five frui..."

29
34:03 - 35:16
1:13 duration240 words

Creating a New Scent Experience

In this segment, Alex elaborates on the concept of round-tripping a smell through AI systems. He explains how this process can lead to the creation of entirely new scents, showcasing the innovative capabilities of Osmo's technology.

"panelist meaning if you going to add one more person to this panel you'd actually prefer to ask our software what it smells like that doesn't have access to the physical molecule than to train up anot..."

30
35:16 - 36:02
0:46 duration139 words

Navigating the Scent Market

Alex discusses the strategic decisions Osmo faces in the fragrance market, weighing the benefits of being a platform provider versus creating their own scent products. He highlights the unique challenges and opportunities in the fragrance industry.

"we've done how you think about the trade-off between a creating a pure play platform yeah defined as you enable devel I'll call them developers yeah to build any sorts of application they want on top ..."

31
36:02 - 37:00
0:57 duration163 words

Transforming the Fragrance Industry

In this concluding segment, Alex emphasizes the need for innovation in the fragrance industry, which has remained unchanged for centuries. He discusses the potential for Osmo to bring transparency and accessibility to scent creation, enhancing emotional connections through fragrance.

"depends on what's the market you're entering with that platform capability right so a lot of successful platforms are exist are entering markets where there's already a ton of vibrant activity and the..."

32
37:02 - 39:02
2:00 duration401 words

Transforming the Fragrance Industry

Alex Wiltschko discusses how Osmo's software and tools have the potential to revolutionize the fragrance industry, which has remained unchanged for centuries. He emphasizes the need for transparency and safety in fragrance creation, highlighting the emotional connection scent has with branding and consumer experience.

"became a parking lot company right we went through a similar Journey where we I mean if I could have sold the software here and believe me we've tried like yeah we'd be selling software we might not b..."

33
39:02 - 40:43
1:41 duration300 words

The Evolutionary Importance of Smell

In this segment, Alex explains the evolutionary significance of smell, describing it as the first sense humans developed. He discusses how our brains are wired to associate scents with emotions and memories, making scent a powerful tool for connection and recognition.

"out how to fuse AI with the human aspect to create really beautiful smells teach us just a little bit about smell itself like why why is it so what's its history why is it so important why is it so em..."

34
40:43 - 42:00
1:16 duration249 words

The Challenge of Teaching Computers to Smell

Alex delves into the complexities of teaching computers to detect scents, referencing the 'Moravec's Paradox' which suggests that tasks easy for humans are often difficult for machines. He highlights the advancements Osmo is making in this field and the potential applications for counterfeit detection.

"way that they do of engineering better smells so like look it's still also the most mysterious sense um we were talking a little bit earlier it feels weird that we haven't figured out scent right it's..."

35
42:00 - 43:14
1:14 duration266 words

Counterfeit Detection with Scent

This segment focuses on Osmo's collaboration with StockX to detect counterfeit products using scent. Alex explains how their technology can differentiate between real and fake items by analyzing the unique scent profiles, showcasing the practical applications of olfactory intelligence.

"Teemu I want you to hold this in your right hand and smell inside of it and I want you to hold this in your left hand and smell inside of it and I want you to look at them can you tell the difference ..."

36
43:14 - 46:04
2:49 duration528 words

Future Applications of Scent Technology

Alex discusses the broader implications of scent technology beyond fragrance creation, including health monitoring and safety applications. He emphasizes the untapped potential of human scent and how advancements in fragrance design can lead to significant breakthroughs in various industries.

"funny to imagine a future where there's an arms race and the and the counterfitters are injecting their own Yep they're they're already is an arms race and so this I'm sure is going to be the next Fro..."

37
46:04 - 50:02
3:58 duration684 words

Building a Sustainable Scent Business

In this segment, Alex shares insights into the fragrance industry's resilience and profitability. He explains how Osmo aims to create a sustainable business model while pursuing the goal of fully digitizing the human sense of smell, ensuring long-term viability and innovation.

"folks and augmenting products and businesses and experiences but there's so much more I mean that's why I want to do this for the rest of my life there is a lifetime of work here even if I were to con..."

38
50:02 - 52:44
2:42 duration515 words

AI Meets Chemistry: A New Frontier

Alex explores the intersection of AI and chemistry, discussing how Osmo leverages artificial intelligence to enhance fragrance creation. He reflects on the potential for AI to solve complex problems in various fields, emphasizing the unique approach Osmo takes in applying technology to scent.

"just because I want to do this for my whole life I don't want to just flip this company and sell it like I really want this to survive it has to survive and so we're we're building in in our strategy ..."

39
53:06 - 54:52
1:45 duration351 words

Building the Olfactory Intelligence Ecosystem

Alex shares insights into how Osmo is constructing a comprehensive ecosystem for olfactory intelligence. He details the processes involved in creating data for scent, including the laboratory's operations and the role of AI in enhancing productivity. This segment highlights the innovative methods Osmo employs to digitize smell and the importance of having a robust data infrastructure.

"driving AI up the scurve for scent and we're really at the far left so we're just starting to take off right now and the thing that is the fuel here is data and so yes we use specific kinds of AI mode..."

40
54:52 - 56:28
1:35 duration313 words

The Future of Scent and Human Wellness

In this segment, Alex discusses the future implications of scent technology on human wellness. He expresses excitement about the potential to understand health through the scents we exude and the connection between scent and mood. Alex envisions a platform that not only creates beautiful scents but also contributes to better health decisions, emphasizing the transformative power of digitizing smell.

"to the world how much of the tooling do you use like are you tapping models from the major model providers or or anyone else and if so how it's suffused into everything that we do and again right tool..."

41
56:28 - 59:24
2:56 duration542 words

The Defining Moment: Smelling the Plum

Alex recounts a pivotal moment in Osmo's journey when they successfully digitized the scent of a plum. This breakthrough not only validated their mission to digitize smell but also opened up new possibilities for scent design and AI model training. This segment captures the excitement and significance of that moment, marking a transition from concept to reality in olfactory technology.

"know what in the smells that we are exuding contain information that help us make better health decisions and there's already a link there between what we do at generation and what we will be doing on..."

42
59:24 - 1:02:07
2:43 duration498 words

Moments of Kindness: The Power of Belief

In the closing segment, Alex reflects on the kindest moments in his journey where mentors believed in him despite uncertainty. He shares stories of individuals who took the time to support him, emphasizing the impact of these small acts of kindness. This heartfelt conclusion highlights the importance of mentorship and belief in fostering innovation and personal growth.

"from zero to one here and then there's all the stuff that came out of that like all these capabilities and tools that were turned into the ability to design scent even better and capture other scents ..."