Smart Brains, Big Money: AI Meets Science in a New Way

A group of very smart people from OpenAI and Google Brain have started a new company called Periodic Labs. Their mission? To use AI to discover new materials, like superconductors. They've secured a massive $300 million in funding from investors to make this happen.

The Spark of an Idea

The idea began when two friends, Liam Fedus and Ekin Dogus Cubuk, discussed how AI could revolutionize science. They believed that AI could accelerate material discovery by mixing and testing different combinations. Even if experiments failed, the data collected could still be invaluable for training AI models.

A Competitive Field

Periodic Labs isn't the only company exploring AI-driven scientific discovery. OpenAI is also working on similar projects. However, Periodic Labs stands out with its diverse team of experts and hands-on experimental approach. Their current focus? Superconductors—materials that could transform technology.

Investor Interest

The company has attracted significant attention from investors. One investor even wrote a "love letter" to convince them to take their money. In the end, they chose Felicis, a top-tier seed firm, to lead the investment. Other major investors include Andreessen Horowitz, DST, and even Jeff Bezos.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the excitement, the journey isn't easy. The robots needed for material mixing aren't yet ready, and science is rarely fast or predictable. Still, the team remains hopeful and excited about the discoveries ahead.