The scientific laboratories of the future will probably not have flying robots and impressive holograms like in fantasy movies. But the prospects that new technologies present us are no less exciting – development of new drugs a few hours before virtual teleportation. So how can we improve laboratories in the future?

Faster, faster, faster

The scientific world produces about 1.8 million articles per year, producing 1.7 megabytes of data per second. It’s easy to get confused. But this is where artificial intelligence comes to the rescue, which can process large arrays of data and identify patterns and connections that a person might miss. In fact, AI can generate hypotheses that human scientists don’t even consider. Here are two examples:

• SciSpace company has developed an artificial intelligence assistant that helps to read and understand scientific articles faster.
• IBM’s AI system for geospatial mapping can analyze large volumes of satellite imagery to detect and predict changes in the environment, such as deforestation or drought, with unmatched accuracy.

And this is just the beginning. We will soon see how artificial intelligence will answer previously unanswered questions such as how life came to be, the true nature of chaos, or how our environment affects our genes.

Therefore, AI’s ability to analyze vast amounts of data, find patterns and connect will be critical to unlocking answers to many questions left unanswered by complexity or lack of data.

Medicines against any disease

Artificial intelligence has long been changing the game in drug development, making the process faster and more efficient.

• For example, the researchers used DeepMind AI to create synthetic “syringes” that inject tumor-killing compounds directly into cells. A process that normally takes years was completed in just 46 days..
• DeepMind also predicted the shape of almost every known protein, and did so with astonishing accuracy; this was a critical step in drug development that previously required years of lab work.
• Another big breakthrough came in January 2023 when AbSci first created and tested antibodies using generative AI. A process that would take at least 6 years can now be shortened to 18-24 months.
• We also know of numerous cases where AI has suggested new compounds and strategies to combat certain diseases (coronavirus, cancer, Alzheimer’s and others).

As AI becomes more sophisticated, we can expect it to play an even more prominent role in drug discovery processes. Clinical trials can be shortened, which reduces the need for animal testing and speeds time to market.

in two places at once

Imagine being able to exist in a science lab without being physically there. Virtual reality technologies combined with artificial intelligence can make this commonplace. Scientists can conduct experiments in virtual reality and manipulate digital models of molecules or materials and monitor the results in real time.

But virtual reality alone won’t change the rules of the game. Researchers at Western University in Ontario, Canada, have completed the world’s first “international holographic teleportation.” The technology, called holoport, uses a special camera to create a hologram of an object, which is then taken by another person at a remote location using hololens, or indeed a VR headset. If both parties wear HoloLens, they can interact virtually. But physical contact is a limitation the team is trying to overcome.

In the future, we may see technologies like the Holoport become commonplace in laboratory science, allowing scientists to instantly collaborate with colleagues around the world. They will be able to transmit holographic images of lab equipment or observe an experiment from the other side of the world in real time. This could lead to closer international cooperation, faster scientific breakthroughs and a reduced carbon footprint.