Home Trials of drugs developed with AI could begin this year, Google DeepMind CEO says

Trials of drugs developed with AI could begin this year, Google DeepMind CEO says

The CEO of Google Mind has suggested clinical trials of the first drugs designed with the help of AI could begin this year.

At the World Economic Forum, on Tuesday (January 21), the CEO Demis Hassabis spoke on a panel which discussed the use of AI in propelling scientific progress across fields.

It was there that he said work is ongoing to try and design drugs with the use of artificial intelligence. Hassabis also runs the spin-off Isomorphic Labs and it’s through this that he said: “I think we’ll hopefully have some AI-designed drugs in clinical trials by the end of the year. That’s the plan.”

Isomorphic Labs was founded by Hassabis and is a London-based company which utilizes AI for drug discovery. On its website, it describes itself as being ‘here to advance human health, by reimagining drug discovery with the power and pace of artificial intelligence.’

One of the updates from the lab explains that while the process of bringing new medicines to patients is long and complex, the team’s approach focuses on employing machine learning. “We’re working on building models from first principles to answer the fundamental questions that can change the way we design drugs.”

Future of AI and science discussed by Google DeepMind CEO

While the potential benefits of AI in science have been spoken about, the CEO of Google DeepMind also addressed the potential timeline of general scientific breakthroughs within the industry.

“There’s a lot of hype in the area of course, but there’s a lot real, but the hype has sort of run away with itself as often happens in these very hot areas. It’s a bit unfortunate I would say.

“…What I would say is if anything, AI is delivering really impressive things that, you know, hopefully AlphaFold is an example, but it’s overhyped in the near time. I think it’s still underappreciated in the medium to long-term.

“I still don’t think people think understand how revolutionary and transformative this technology is going to be in the sort of five – ten year time scale.”

Featured Image: AI-generated via Ideogram

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech, gambling and blockchain industries for major developments, new product and brand launches, AI breakthroughs, game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to in-house staff writers with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Sophie Atkinson
Tech Journalist

Sophie Atkinson is a UK-based journalist and content writer, as well as a founder of a content agency which focuses on storytelling through social media marketing. She kicked off her career with a Print Futures Award which champions young talent working in print, paper and publishing. Heading straight into a regional newsroom, after graduating with a BA (Hons) degree in Journalism, Sophie started by working for Reach PLC. Now, with five years experience in journalism and many more in content marketing, Sophie works as a freelance writer and marketer. Her areas of specialty span a wide range, including technology, business,…

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.