Moderna Chief Brand Officer Reports 83% Staff Adoption of ChatGPT

At the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity last week, Moderna's chief brand officer, Kate Cronin, revealed that 83% of the company's employees use ChatGPT on a daily basis.

She highlighted that since she joined in 2021, the pharmaceutical giant has integrated AI into its operations, which was instrumental in their efforts to combat COVID-19.

Cronin said, "Our scientists are using it regularly in terms of determining sequences or dosing, and then we've moved on through the organization to other parts in terms of using AI."

With over 700 ChatGPT instances created by employees, Cronin elaborated on the extensive use of AI from a branding and marketing perspective. The company employs AI to develop personas, replacing traditional focus groups with AI personas to predict stakeholder reactions. AI is also utilized for content creation, brainstorming with partners, and enhancing precision in measurement and analytics. These applications shed light on the diverse and significant roles AI plays at Moderna, according to Cronin.

Cronin emphasized the importance of understanding AI in terms of developing effective prompts. She noted that it's crucial to input the right information to achieve accurate and useful responses, acknowledging the potential for AI to generate "hallucinations" if not properly guided. Despite initial reluctance, Moderna employees have become increasingly comfortable with AI, now using it daily since its adoption over a year and a half ago. According to Cronin, this progress underscores the value of gradual learning and exploration in mastering AI technology.

In April, Moderna and OpenAI revealed their continued partnership aimed at harnessing AI's transformative potential in business and healthcare. As a digital-first company, Moderna has utilized machine learning from its inception. This robust data grounding, combined with a strong culture of continuous learning, has enabled Moderna to integrate generative AI into its operations, paving the way for AI advancements.

In early 2023, Moderna launched mChat, its proprietary version of ChatGPT, marking the beginning of a collaborative effort with OpenAI. Put together on OpenAI's API, mChat quickly gained traction within the organization, a culture of AI adoption. This initial success paved the way for the implementation of ChatGPT Enterprise, offering expanded functionalities like advanced analytics and image generation. The company has fully integrated these GPTs into every facet of its operations, spanning legal, research, manufacturing, and commercial sectors. These AI assistants play a critical role in boosting employee productivity and providing tailored support throughout the company.

In a statement on the company's website, Stéphane Bancel, chief executive officer of Moderna, said, "Just as the introduction of the personal computer in the 1980s changed the way we work and live, AI is on a path to completely transform our everyday lives — and OpenAI is helping to lead the way. Both our companies have shared values and are research-driven organizations pushing the boundaries of technology to drive transformation."

He added, "Moderna has an ambitious plan to launch multiple products over the next few years, and collaborations with companies like OpenAI are critical to our ability to scale and maximize our impact on patients."

Also in the statement, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, said, "Moderna is leading the way by empowering all of its employees to use AI to tackle complex problems. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with Moderna to bring a new generation of medicines to patients in need."