Global Community of Researchers and Healthcare Providers Invited to Build Upon Foundation Model

PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY – May 14, 2025 – Vibes AI, the neurotechnology startup pioneering voice biomarker AI model for cognitive health, today announced the appointment of Kara Uchtman, as Chief Research Officer. In this strategic role, Uchtman will lead the company's research initiatives, grant strategy, and product development efforts to advance Vibes AI's mission of making cognitive health monitoring accessible and actionable through voice analysis.

In her role, Uchtman will spearhead the continued development of Vibes AI's open-source voice biomarker foundation model—a first-of-its-kind AI system trained to detect subtle vocal patterns that correlate with cognitive states and changes. This technology eliminates the need for expensive, invasive tests or specialized clinical settings, instead using natural speech samples to provide accessible cognitive health insights. By making this advanced AI model open source, Vibes AI aims to accelerate global innovation in cognitive health and ensure the benefits of voice biomarker technology reach communities worldwide.

"Kara's extraordinary blend of AI expertise, biotech innovation leadership, and operational excellence makes her the ideal leader to advance our open-source non-invasive voice biomarker foundation model," said Joanna Peña-Bickley, CEO of Vibes AI. "The beauty of our approach is its combination of non-invasiveness and accessibility—we're creating technology that can assess and enable better cognitive health through natural conversation, without special equipment, blood tests, or clinical visits. By making this foundation model open source, we're inviting a global community of researchers, healthcare providers, and innovators to build upon our work and accelerate progress in cognitive health. Kara's exceptional ability to translate complex scientific breakthroughs into elegant, user-friendly solutions, coupled with her passion for collaborative innovation, will be crucial as we develop and share this transformative technology with the world."

Uchtman brings two decades of distinguished experience across Fortune 500 companies and high-growth startups. Most recently, she served as Chief Product Officer at Narratize, where she co-founded and successfully launched an innovative generative AI storytelling platform that redefined industry standards.

Her career includes executive leadership as Chief Operating Officer at Eccrine Systems, where she directed the R&D organization in developing the world's first wearable, non-invasive sweat-sensing medication monitoring device – bringing transformative biotechnology from concept to reality. Uchtman has also held key executive roles at HR Elements and Qntfy (acquired by SonderMind), consistently demonstrating her ability to drive technological innovation with practical applications.

"I'm thrilled to join Vibes AI to lead the development of our open-source non-invasive voice biomarker foundation model," said Uchtman. "This technology represents a paradigm shift in cognitive health assessment. By analyzing speech patterns—including subtle variations in rhythm, prosody, vocabulary, and acoustic features—our AI can detect cognitive changes months or even years before they would be apparent through traditional testing methods. What makes our approach truly revolutionary is not only its non-invasiveness but our commitment to open source. By freely sharing this foundation model with the global research and healthcare communities, we can collectively accelerate innovation, ensure the technology works equitably across diverse populations, and make crucial cognitive health insights accessible to everyone, regardless of location or resources. I'm energized by the opportunity to lead this collaborative effort to create technology that is both scientifically rigorous and radically accessible."

Uchtman's appointment strengthens Vibes AI's leadership team as the company expands its research collaborations, including the recently announced partnership with AI Design Corps on Project MANTRA – an initiative focused on enhancing the open-source non-invasive voice biomarker foundation model to work across diverse languages, accents, and cultural speech patterns. This collaborative, open-source approach will allow researchers and developers worldwide to contribute to and benefit from advancements in voice biomarker technology.

A licensed Professional Engineer (P.E.) in Ohio, Uchtman holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering from Vanderbilt University. Her technical expertise, combined with her visionary approach to product development, positions Vibes AI to accelerate its impact in the rapidly evolving neuro tech landscape.

About Vibes AI

Vibes AI is a neurotechnology company on a mission to accelerate the world's access to cognitive health & wellness. Founded in 2024, the company uses AI, neuroscience, and ancestral intelligence to create innovative solutions that make cognitive health and enhancement accessible to all. MANTRA, one of the company's flagship products, uses voice biomarker technology to detect early signs of cognitive decline and provide personalized interventions.