•
Nov. 19, 2024
We are living in a transformative era where applied science, human ingenuity, and cutting-edge technologies are offering unprecedented insights into some of humanity's oldest and most complex questions. While the scientific community often appears to progress at breakneck speed, the reality over the past few decades has been a slowdown in transformative breakthroughs. Despite the rapid pace of advancements in computing, communication, and consumer technology, much of the world’s fundamental systems—such as jet propulsion or industrial manufacturing—remain relatively unchanged since the mid-20th century.
However, the tide is turning. Over the past few years, revolutionary strides in nascent fields like artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing have reignited the pace of scientific discovery. These advancements are not just theoretical—they are already delivering tangible benefits, from breakthroughs in healthcare to solutions for environmental sustainability.
This wave of innovation has been made possible by decades of collaboration among researchers, technologists, policymakers, civil organizations, and societies at large. Together, they have crafted a blueprint demonstrating how the integration of AI into science can profoundly enhance human life.
Recognizing this transformative potential, The Royal Society, in collaboration with Google DeepMind, recently hosted the inaugural AI for Science Forum in London. The event brought together a diverse array of policymakers, industry leaders, and scientists to explore how AI can accelerate scientific progress and address global challenges.
Here, we examine nine pivotal breakthroughs that underscore the immense potential of AI in revolutionizing scientific discovery and shaping the future.
For decades, understanding the 3D structure of proteins—known as protein folding—was considered a grand scientific challenge. In 2022, Google DeepMind’s AlphaFold 2 solved this problem, predicting the structures of over 200 million proteins with remarkable precision in just minutes. Previously, determining a single protein's structure could take years of labor-intensive work.
The impact of this breakthrough is immense. Scientists worldwide can now use AlphaFold’s free database to accelerate drug discovery, combat antibiotic resistance, and address environmental challenges like plastic degradation. Building on this foundation, the AlphaFold 3 model is pushing boundaries even further by predicting interactions among all of life’s molecules.
Few mysteries are as profound as the human brain. In 2024, a collaboration between Google and Harvard’s Lichtman Lab unveiled the most detailed map of the brain ever created. Years of research in connectomics culminated in a dataset revealing previously unseen brain structures and providing AI-generated annotations for every cell.
This dataset, made publicly accessible, is a monumental step forward for neuroscience. It equips researchers with the tools to unlock new understanding of brain function, neurological disorders, and potential treatments, transforming health research globally.
Floods devastate millions of lives annually, but forecasting their occurrence has been notoriously challenging. In 2018, Google initiated a flood forecasting project that overcame these challenges by using AI to predict riverine flooding in ungauged watersheds.
By 2024, this AI model expanded its reach to 100 countries and 700 million people, offering accurate predictions up to seven days in advance—an improvement from the previous five-day lead time. These forecasts are saving lives and enabling communities to prepare for and mitigate the impacts of flooding.
As wildfires grow in intensity and frequency, rapid detection is crucial. In 2024, Google partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to launch FireSat, an AI-powered satellite system capable of detecting wildfires the size of a classroom within 20 minutes.
This high-resolution satellite imagery allows firefighting authorities to respond swiftly, potentially saving lives, property, and ecosystems. This innovation marks a critical step in combating one of the most pressing consequences of climate change.
Accurate and timely weather forecasts are critical for disaster preparedness and resource management. In 2023, Google DeepMind launched GraphCast, a machine learning model that predicts weather conditions 10 days in advance, outperforming traditional industry models in both speed and accuracy.
GraphCast excels in predicting cyclones and associated risks, offering better insights for disaster response. Its ability to model weather with unprecedented precision is a game-changer for climate resilience.
AI has historically struggled with advanced mathematics. This changed in 2024 with the introduction of AlphaGeometry by Google DeepMind. The system achieved near-human levels of performance in solving complex geometry problems, a feat previously considered beyond AI’s reach.
The combination of AlphaGeometry and AlphaProof models enabled the solution of 83% of International Mathematical Olympiad problems from the past 25 years. These advancements highlight AI's growing capacity for reasoning and problem-solving, paving the way for discoveries in fields like physics, engineering, and economics.
Quantum computing promises to revolutionize chemistry by enabling simulations that were previously impossible. In collaboration with UC Berkeley and Columbia University, Google researchers performed the largest chemistry simulations to date using quantum computers.
These simulations accurately predicted chemical reactivity and kinetics, heralding a new era in materials science. This capability could unlock innovations in drug development, clean energy, and industrial processes.
In 2023, Google DeepMind introduced Graph Networks for Materials Exploration (GNoME), an AI tool that identified 380,000 stable materials at low temperatures. These discoveries could lead to breakthroughs in solar cells, batteries, and superconductors, essential for a sustainable energy future.
By making these findings publicly accessible via the Materials Project, Google DeepMind ensures that the benefits of this research are shared widely.
Nuclear fusion, the process that powers the stars, has long been a scientific dream. In 2022, Google DeepMind collaborated with the Swiss Plasma Center to develop AI capable of autonomously stabilizing plasma within a fusion reactor.
This achievement is a critical step toward realizing the promise of fusion energy—a clean, abundant, and sustainable energy source that could power the world for generations.
These breakthroughs demonstrate the immense potential of AI to accelerate scientific discovery and solve humanity’s most pressing challenges. They are a testament to the power of collaboration across disciplines and the importance of leveraging AI responsibly.
As we look ahead, initiatives like the AI for Science Forum provide a roadmap for fostering innovation and ensuring that the transformative power of AI continues to benefit society. The journey is just beginning, but the potential is limitless. By integrating AI into science, we are not only answering the questions of today but also building a brighter future for generations to come.
