One twist in the evolution of AI, that I must admit I wouldn't have expected a few years ago, has been the exciting way in which AI is beginning to aide the scientific discovery process.

Google DeepMind have just published on their AI tool GNoME, which found 2.2 million new crystals, including 380,000 stable materials that could power future technologies. Researchers then went on to create 736 of those new materials in the lab, proving the model's predictions.

To quote the paper: "To build a more sustainable future, we need new materials. GNoME has discovered 380,000 stable crystals that hold the potential to develop greener technologies – from better batteries for electric cars, to superconductors for more efficient computing."

We tend to think about AI being used in more mundane situations and the emphasis has very much been on the potential for efficiency gains, but its ability to aide scientific discovery has so much potential. New materials, new medical treatments and much more – AI discovering things, not just improving productivity.

Read DeepMind's writeup and the full paper in Nature.