AI Technology is Transforming the Scientific Field
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In the future, research laboratories will harness the transformative potential of AI to tackle complex problems and accelerate scientific discoveries.
Future science labs may not feature flying robots, sentient AI assistants, or superhero scientists like Iron Man and the Hulk. While they may not reach the realms of science fiction, what they can achieve in the real world is equally impressive.
From developing new drugs in a matter of hours to virtual "teleportation," here are some ways labs might evolve in the future.
Faster Information Synthesis
With nearly 1.8 million papers published annually and 1.7 megabytes of data generated per person every second, how can we make sense of it all?
The answer lies in AI. It can identify patterns and connections in datasets that humans might overlook. In fact, AI has already generated hypotheses that human scientists hadn’t considered.
For example, the AI assistant developed by SciSpace helps researchers read and understand research papers more quickly. IBM’s geospatial mapping AI system can analyze vast amounts of satellite imagery to detect and predict environmental changes—such as deforestation or drought—with unprecedented accuracy.
This is just the beginning. Soon, we’ll see AI being used to answer previously unanswerable questions, such as the origin of life, the true nature of chaos, or how the environment influences our genes. Many of these questions remain unanswered due to their complexity or lack of data. AI’s ability to analyze massive datasets and uncover patterns and connections will be key to unlocking these profound mysteries.
Accelerating Drug Development
AI is revolutionizing drug development, making it faster and more efficient. For instance, researchers used DeepMind AI to create synthetic "syringes" that deliver anti-cancer compounds directly into cells—a process that typically takes years but was accomplished in just 46 days. DeepMind also predicted the structures of nearly all known proteins with remarkable accuracy, a critical step in drug development that previously required years of lab work.
Another major breakthrough occurred in January 2023, when AbSci used zero-shot generative AI to create and validate novel antibodies in vivo for the first time. Traditionally, antibodies are developed using existing templates, which can be time-consuming. In vitro methods can reduce this timeline from six years to 18–24 months.
As AI becomes more sophisticated, its role in laboratory science will expand. Clinical trials could be shortened and simulated to assess efficacy and toxicity, reducing the need for animal testing. This could be particularly impactful for cancer target identification and new drug discovery.
Ubiquitous Presence
Imagine being present in a scientific lab without physically being there. Combining virtual reality with AI could make this a reality. Scientists could conduct experiments in virtual environments, manipulating digital models of molecules or materials while monitoring results in real time.
But it’s not just virtual reality that’s game-changing. Researchers at Western University in Ontario, Canada, have achieved the world’s first international holographic teleportation. The technology, called Holoport, uses specialized cameras to create a hologram of a subject, which is then transmitted to a recipient wearing a HoloLens or VR device. If both parties are equipped with HoloLens, they can interact virtually—though physical touch remains a limitation the team is working to overcome.
In the future, Holoport-like technologies could become commonplace in lab science, enabling scientists to collaborate instantly with colleagues worldwide. They could transmit holograms of lab equipment or observe experimental results from the other side of the globe in real time. This could lead to more international collaborations, faster scientific breakthroughs, and a lower carbon footprint for the scientific community.