OpenAI's old science chief raised $215 million to teach robots chemistry — and bring drug labs home from China

Former OpenAI science chief Kevin Weil has launched Warp Sciences, a startup that trains robots to make and test drug compounds around the clock. It has raised $215 million at an $865 million valuation in a round led by Lightspeed, with IVP, Mayfield, Lux, Premji Invest and Menlo Ventures participating.

The plan: human chemists wearing cameras and sensor gloves teach robots to synthesize thousands of molecular variations — the labor-intensive step biotech firms have long outsourced to Chinese contractors like WuXi AppTec. Weil announced the launch on X, saying the Series A will 'bring frontier AI out of the browser and into the lab.'