A problem that took microbiologists at Imperial College London over ten years to solve was cracked in just 48 hours by a new AI tool developed by Google.
Professor José R. Penadés and his team had spent years figuring out why certain superbugs resist antibiotics.
Using Google's AI tool, described as a "co-scientist," they fed in a simple prompt based on their research.
Within two days, the AI reached the same conclusion they had worked on for years, despite the fact that their findings had never been shared or published.
Prof. Penadés was shocked by the result and even wondered if Google had somehow accessed his computer. The company confirmed it hadn’t.
Here’s what you should know:
Google’s AI tool solved 10 years of research in just two days.
It suggested four new hypotheses, including one the team hadn’t considered.
Scientists believe AI will become a powerful tool for speeding up breakthroughs.
The AI didn’t just replicate their findings, it also suggested four new hypotheses.
One of these offered a completely new idea that the researchers are now investigating.
The team’s main focus has been on understanding how superbugs, bacteria resistant to antibiotics, form.
Their theory suggests these bacteria borrow "tails" from viruses, allowing them to spread between different species, much like using a key to unlock new doors.
A whole new world?
While concerns remain about AI taking over human jobs, Prof. Penadés believes this technology will help researchers rather than replace them.
His team sees AI as a way to speed up discoveries and cut down on years of work.
Superbugs really thought they were safe, and AI said “lol”