This man is teaching computers to smell

Alex Wiltschko wants to bring smell into the digital age. A former Google researcher, he launched Osmo to digitize scent- something that hearing and vision technologies have already done. His vision includes devices that can record and play back smells, from cedar forests to fresh baking.

Osmo breaks down scent into digital signatures by converting molecular structures into data. This system can already identify smells with high accuracy, helping to detect counterfeit goods, explosives, and potential public health threats.

Wiltschko believes scent could play a major role in early disease detection. Because molecules from inside our bodies are exhaled or released through our skin, scent could signal health issues before symptoms appear. Osmo has already created a repellent more effective than DEET and is developing tools to detect household toxins.

Osmo’s AI can also create new fragrances. It has already "teleported" scents by uploading a molecular profile to the cloud, allowing smells to be replicated elsewhere. In the future, Wiltschko imagines watching a cooking show and actually smelling the food.

Wiltschko’s mission is also deeply personal. His father died of brain cancer, a condition some evidence suggests has a unique scent. That possibility inspired him to develop tools that might one day save lives through early detection.

As a 2025 World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, Osmo joins a global network of innovators using technology to tackle major social challenges.

Watch the video to learn more about how AI is unlocking the hidden power of smell.