A Visionary Paper Reveals An Ambitious Strategy For Harnessing The Power Of Artificial Intelligence In Scientific Discoveries

Artificial intelligence (AI) innovations are fast transforming our environment, from virtual assistants and chatbots to self-driving cars and automated manufacturing. Seizing on the promise of AI to alter research, the nation’s top science and technology experts have produced a strategy for the US to speed development by strengthening its skills in AI and big data analysis.

“AI for Science, Energy, and Security” puts forth a comprehensive strategy for the United States Department of Energy (DOE) to extend its work in scientific AI applications by capitalising on its current capabilities in world-leading high-performance computing systems and data infrastructure.

The study is the result of a series of seminars held in 2022 by DOE’s Office of Science and the National Nuclear Security Administration. Over 1,000 scientists, engineers, and employees from DOE labs, academia, and technology businesses attended the seminars to discuss the rapidly evolving prospects and problems of scientific AI.

The paper highlights and describes six AI capabilities and their potential to alter DOE’s programme areas. These range from complicated system control, such as power grids, to foundation models, such as the massive language models powering generative AI programmes like ChatGPT. The paper also outlines the critical technology required to allow these AI-powered changes.

“Advances in AI could dramatically change the way we pose and solve scientific problems,” said Rick Stevens, associate laboratory director of computing, environment, and life science at DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory, who co-led the workshops and report preparation. “There is so much untapped potential for AI innovations to both drive and accelerate new scientific discoveries.” DOE is the natural leader in developing trustworthy, responsible artificial intelligence to support our nation’s energy transition and nuclear deterrence initiatives.”

The paper outlines scientific “grand challenges” where AI plays a significant role in advancing towards solutions. Improved climate models, the quest for novel quantum materials, innovative nuclear reactor designs for sustainable energy, and other initiatives are among them.

The AI workshop series and report were led by six DOE national laboratories: Argonne, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Sandia National Laboratory.