Counterfeiting goods might sound like a harmless, petty crime, but in today’s world, it is far more serious. Illegitimate products, particularly medicine, kill over a million people every year (more than wars and malaria), and threaten countless more lives; not to mention drain revenue, and crush reputations.
A light shone brightly on Cypheme this year for efforts made to combat the problem with our spinoff technology, Vrai AI. Our advanced anti-counterfeiting solution was honored with a major United Nations University “AI For Less Developed Countries” Award during the prestigious AI for SDGs - 2025 Global Youth AI Future Innovation Competition held in Macau.
More than an AI tech award, this United Nations award represents for us a recognition of the importance of our mission to eradicate counterfeiting, especially in regions of the world that are most impacted by it. We are deeply appreciative of the honor bestowed by the UNU.
This recognition from the United Nations is a tremendous honor. It’s also a signal that Vrai AI can deliver results in regions where counterfeit goods aren’t just a financial concern, they’re a full-blown public health and safety crisis.
In large regions of the globe, counterfeiting in pharmaceuticals, as well as compromised supply chains and limited regulatory infrastructure, is a serious problem. A daily threat for billions of people who see their lives put at real risk.
That’s why winning an AI tech award from the internationally vetted United Nations University is so crucial for Vrai AI; it showcases how it can address these challenges in ways few other technologies can.
Many companies are navigating complex, multinational supply chains. By earning this AI tech award, Vrai AI has established itself as a way to protect real people and products.
For businesses operating in markets where counterfeit goods have compromised consumer trust and health, the award highlights solution-based, difference-making technology.
The United Nations established the SDGs to address global challenges like poverty, public health, economic instability, and access to authentic, safe goods.
Fake products pose immediate dangers and create major issues in less developed regions with underdeveloped regulatory systems, especially in industries most affected by counterfeiting, like pharma and nutraceuticals.
Malaria is one of the world’s deadliest diseases, second only to AIDS. Counterfeit anti-malarial medicine is one of the leading factors contributing to its deadliness. By allowing potentially anyone the possibility of ensuring that the medicine they use is genuine and reliable, Vrai could offer tremendous support in the fight against this disease
Vrai AI’s United Nations award in the AI for SDGs Global Innovation Competition highlights the technology responsible for advancing goals that address these issues.
The initiative comprises 17 total goals.
Vrai AI doesn’t require modifications to product packaging or any additional on-site equipment. Even in a low-resource environment, a standard smartphone is all that it takes to bring advanced anti-counterfeit protection to communities that have never had access to these tools.
This accessibility is precisely why the United Nations awarded it. It elevates safety and trust in places where just one counterfeit product can devastate a community.
UN recognition is a turning point. Not just for Vrai AI, but for how the world approaches the fight against counterfeit goods. Especially in vulnerable markets. Endorsement from global institutions builds credibility and trust, validating the mission to protect lives and strengthen supply chains where aid is needed most.
For Cypheme, it’s a true highlight and testament to a long-term vision that began with a simple, but bold idea: to put an end to counterfeiting; a vision currently powering authentications across over 200 countries.
And while it’s an AI tech award that specifically celebrates Vrai AI, it also showcases the broader impact of Cypheme’s AI and the ongoing efforts to eradicate counterfeit products.
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