Former OpenAI & DeepMind Researchers Unleash $300M to Revolutionize Scientific Discovery

Former OpenAI and DeepMind Researchers Raise Whopping $300M Seed to Automate Science In a groundbreaking move, Periodic Labs, a startup founded by Ekin Dogus Cubuk and Liam Fedus, emerged from stealth on Tuesday with a staggering $300 million seed round. Backed by some of the biggest names in tech, including Andreessen Horowitz, DST, Nvidia, Accel, Elad Gil, Jeff Dean, Eric Schmidt, and Jeff Bezos, Periodic Labs aims to revolutionize scientific discovery through automation. The company's founders bring impressive credentials to the table. Cubuk led the materials and chemistry team at Google Brain and DeepMind, where he worked on an AI tool called GNoME that discovered over 2 million new crystals in 2023. These discoveries have the potential to power future generations of technology. Fedus, a former VP of Research at OpenAI, was part of the team that created ChatGPT and led the development of the first trillion-parameter neural network. "We're not just building AI tools; we're creating an entirely new paradigm for scientific discovery," said Cubuk in an interview. "Our goal is to automate the process of experimentation, data collection, and iteration, freeing up human researchers to focus on high-level decision-making and creative problem-solving." Periodic Labs' vision is ambitious: to create AI scientists that can conduct experiments, collect data, and iterate without human intervention. This would enable researchers to tackle complex problems at an unprecedented scale and speed. The company's team is comprised of experts who have worked on other major AI and materials science projects, including OpenAI's agent Operator and Microsoft's MatterGen, a Large Language Model (LLM) for materials science discovery. "This funding will allow us to accelerate our development of automated scientific labs and bring our vision to life," said Fedus. "We're not just building technology; we're creating a new era of scientific collaboration and innovation." The implications of Periodic Labs' work are far-reaching, with potential applications in fields such as medicine, energy, and materials science. "The automation of scientific discovery has the potential to accelerate breakthroughs in various domains," said Dr. Fei-Fei Li, Director of the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab (SAIL). "However, it's essential to ensure that these advancements are aligned with human values and societal needs." As Periodic Labs continues to develop its technology, the company will face challenges related to data quality, model interpretability, and responsible AI development. With this significant funding, Periodic Labs is poised to make a substantial impact on the scientific community. As Cubuk noted, "We're not just raising money; we're building a new future for science." Background: The automation of scientific discovery has been gaining traction in recent years, with various startups and research institutions exploring AI-powered approaches to experimentation and data analysis. Additional Perspectives: Industry experts believe that Periodic Labs' technology could have significant implications for the pharmaceutical industry, where AI-assisted drug discovery could lead to faster development times and improved efficacy. Current Status and Next Developments: Periodic Labs plans to use its funding to accelerate the development of automated scientific labs and expand its team. The company will also engage with researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to ensure that its technology is aligned with societal needs and values. As the field of AI-assisted scientific discovery continues to evolve, Periodic Labs' ambitious vision and significant funding are poised to shape the future of research and innovation. *Reporting by Techcrunch.*