From self-driving cars to virtual assistants, AI is becoming increasingly prevalent in our daily lives. While it’s tempting to view this rise as sudden, the truth is that it has been building steadily over the last few centuries, culminating in this moment in history when the technology is finally poised to truly change our world for good.
Real-world projects are already showcasing how AI can be harnessed to tackle complex, global challenges. For example, Google DeepMind’s AI-driven energy optimization in data centers reduces power consumption by over 30%, contributing to the fight against climate change. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s AI for Earth initiative is tackling environmental challenges like species protection and ecosystem monitoring. And in healthcare, AI4Health is enhancing diagnostics and optimizing healthcare systems to improve patient outcomes.
But perhaps the most exciting area in which AI is advancing is in materials science. Researching and developing new materials is an incredibly difficult process, but AI could streamline the whole process. For instance, AI can help find the best structure for a particular material based on its physical properties. It can also identify and analyze patterns within large datasets to understand what is happening on a molecular level.
For the first time, we have an opportunity to apply advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to develop new materials that can be used in a broad range of applications from building structures and manufacturing, to medical and consumer products. For example, AI can scan an image and then use this information to create a model of a part or object – a process known as generative modeling. This approach is particularly useful for creating new materials with specific properties.