From revolutionizing content creation to powering everyday conveniences, artificial intelligence has rapidly reshaped our world, and now, a similar transformation is poised to redefine scientific discovery. Caltech, in partnership with the University of Chicago, will host a groundbreaking conference November 10-11, exploring the powerful synergy between AI and core scientific disciplines. This event, fueled by support from the Margot and Tom Pritzker Foundation, arrives at a pivotal moment, as machine learning tools are increasingly employed to accelerate research in fields ranging from climate modeling and enzyme evolution to neuroscience and robotics, promising solutions to previously intractable challenges and opening exciting new avenues for exploration.
AI’s Expanding Role in Scientific Fields
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming scientific fields, moving beyond workflow assistance to become a core component of discovery, as highlighted by the upcoming AI+Science Conference at Caltech. Leaders like Anima Anandkumar emphasize that the progress seen with large language models is merely a prelude to the deeper impact AI will have when integrated with scientific disciplines. This “AI+Science” approach is already yielding results, from accelerating the design of novel enzymes – building on evolution’s own algorithmic processes, as Nobel Laureate Frances Arnold will discuss – to dramatically speeding up climate modeling through AI emulators, potentially running hundreds of times faster than traditional methods. Researchers are also exploring AI’s potential in areas like brain-machine interfaces and neuroscience, indicating a fundamental shift in how scientists approach previously intractable questions and ultimately, unlocking new avenues for innovation.
Caltech and UChicago Host AI+Science Conference
Caltech and the University of Chicago will co-host the Conference on AI+Science November 10 and 11, exploring the rapidly expanding intersection of artificial intelligence and scientific discovery. Fueled by a generous grant from the Margot and Tom Pritzker Foundation, the two-day event highlights how machine learning is moving beyond applications like content creation to tackle complex challenges in fields ranging from biology and physics to climate modeling and neuroscience. Leaders at both institutions emphasize that this integration of AI into scientific domains represents the next major frontier for the technology, enabling researchers to address previously intractable questions. The conference, livestreamed on YouTube, will feature presentations from prominent scientists including Nobel Laureate Frances Arnold, discussing AI’s role in enzyme design inspired by evolution, and Christopher Bretherton, who will detail how AI can accelerate climate model simulations. Ultimately, the conference aims to chart a course for AI-driven scientific breakthroughs and foster collaboration across disciplines.
Conference Highlights: Key Topics & Speakers
The upcoming AI+Science Conference, co-hosted by Caltech and the University of Chicago November 10 and 11, will spotlight the increasingly vital intersection of artificial intelligence and scientific discovery, moving beyond AI’s impact on content creation to address complex challenges in fields like biology, physics, and climate modeling. Keynote speaker Nobel Laureate Frances Arnold will discuss the synergy between evolution and AI in enzyme design, framing evolution itself as a foundational biological algorithm, while Christopher Bretherton will detail how AI can dramatically accelerate climate modeling through the use of GPU-based systems. Sessions will cover a broad range of topics, including AI+Neuroscience, AI+Health, and AI+Robotics, reflecting the initiative’s growth since its 2018 inception and the generous support from the Pritzker Foundation. Attendees can participate in person at Caltech or virtually via livestream on YouTube, accessing insights from researchers reimagining scientific exploration.
