AI: The Unseen Helper in Science and Growth

The Concerns

People often worry about AI, thinking it might cause job losses or other problems. Surveys show that many Americans are more concerned than excited about AI, with only a small percentage trusting it to make fair decisions. These fears are not entirely unfounded, as AI is often linked to negative impacts on work, education, and relationships.

The Untold Benefits

However, there's another side to AI that doesn't get as much attention. AI can actually help scientists solve big problems.

Healthcare and Biology

AlphaFold, an AI system developed by Google DeepMind, can predict the 3D shapes of proteins. This used to take months or even years of lab work, but now biologists have a database of high-quality predictions for almost all proteins. This helps in designing new drugs, vaccines, and enzymes, which can improve health and productivity.

Material Science

AI is also making waves in material science. DeepMind's GNoME, a graph neural network, proposed about 2.2 million new inorganic crystal structures. This is a huge leap forward, as it represents hundreds of years' worth of discovery in one shot. These new materials could lead to cheaper batteries, more efficient solar cells, better chips, and stronger construction materials.

Weather Forecasting

In weather forecasting, DeepMind's GraphCast model can create a global 10-day forecast in under a minute. This is much faster and more accurate than the current gold-standard models. Better weather forecasts can help us prepare for extreme weather events and make informed decisions about our daily lives.

Automated Research

AI is not just replacing human labor; it's enabling scientists to do things that were previously impossible. For instance, Coscientist, an AI system developed by researchers at Carnegie Mellon, can plan and execute chemistry experiments in a fully automated lab. This means that scientists don't have to be physically present in the lab to conduct serious research.

The Future of AI Scientists

FutureHouse, a nonprofit backed by Eric Schmidt, is working on building an "AI scientist" within a decade. Their platform includes specialized agents designed to help scientists process vast amounts of data and literature. This can free up human scientists to focus on more important tasks, like choosing good research questions and interpreting results.

The Risks

While AI has the potential to greatly benefit scientific research, there are also risks. AI systems can sometimes misinterpret data or make confident but incorrect statements. Additionally, AI can accelerate research on harmful pathogens or chemical weapons. It's important to have the right checks in place to prevent these risks.

Conclusion

In conclusion, AI has the potential to be a powerful tool for scientific research and economic growth. By focusing AI on solving important problems in health, energy, and climate, we can make life more affordable and abundant. However, it's crucial to address the risks and ensure that AI is used responsibly.