Researchers at DARPA have developed an AI-guided robotic platform to automate the production of small molecules, freeing chemists from labour-intensive tasks. Initially, the AI software uses neural networks trained on previously published chemical reactions to recommend a route for synthesising a molecule, after which a chemist reviews it and turns it into a recipe. Next, the robotic platform automatically builds the molecular assembly line and performs the reactions to manufacture the compound. The innovation allows for a quick turnaround and could lead to novel molecules with wide-ranging applications, such as in medicine, polymer chemistry or solar energy.
Researchers at MIT have developed an AI-guided robotic platform to automate the production of small molecules, freeing chemists from labour-intensive tasks. Initially, the AI software uses neural networks trained on previously published chemical reactions to recommend a route for synthesising a molecule, after which a chemist reviews it and turns it into a recipe. Next, the robotic platform automatically builds the molecular assembly line and performs the reactions to manufacture the compound. The innovation allows for a quick turnaround and could lead to novel molecules with wide-ranging applications, such as in medicine, polymer chemistry or solar energy.