DeepMind eyes materials discovery

Google DeepMind is set to launch its first AI-powered automated laboratory in the UK in 2026, dedicated to materials science research. This multidisciplinary lab will integrate the Gemini AI model with robotics to accelerate experimentation and discovery in energy, medicine, and computing. The primary focus will be on developing superconductor materials that can conduct electricity with zero resistance.

The lab will be built from the ground up to be fully integrated with Gemini. DeepMind aims to combine AI's predictive capabilities with automated experimentation, creating a closed-loop, AI-driven discovery engine. This facility will synthesise and characterise novel materials, validate AI-generated hypotheses, and generate high-quality data to refine AI models.

DeepMind is assembling a team of experts in machine learning, computer science, physics, chemistry, and biology to push the boundaries of what is possible in materials science. The lab signifies DeepMind's increasing focus on materials science, with the goal of using AI to dramatically reduce costs and accelerate the discovery of new materials.