Google has introduced an AI-powered tool designed to function as a virtual collaborator for biomedical researchers, the U.S. blue-chip company announced on Wednesday.
The tool, which has been tested by scientists at Stanford University and Imperial College London, leverages advanced reasoning capabilities to help researchers analyze extensive scientific literature and generate new hypotheses, according to Google.
AI technology is increasingly being utilized across various industries, from handling customer service inquiries to conducting legal research, following the rise of models like ChatGPT. Google’s AI division, DeepMind, has placed a strong focus on scientific advancements, and its CEO, Demis Hassabis, was awarded a Nobel Prize in Chemistry last year for AI-driven technological developments.
During an experiment on liver fibrosis, Google reported that all proposed approaches generated by the AI system demonstrated promising activity and potential for inhibiting disease-causing factors. Additionally, the company noted that the tool showed the ability to refine and enhance expert-generated solutions over time.
“While this is a preliminary finding requiring further validation, it suggests a promising avenue for capable AI systems… to augment and accelerate the work of expert scientists,” the company stated. Researchers involved in the project emphasized that the AI tool is intended to support, rather than replace, human scientists.
“We expect that it will… increase, rather than decrease scientific collaboration,” said Google scientist Vivek Natarajan.
