OwlBrief

Stay informed, stay wise!

OwlBrief gives busy professionals the world’s top stories in seconds — five ultra-fast, AI-crafted briefs a day. Stay informed, stay wise, and never waste time on fluff.

Create account Log in
#AI & ML #Robotics
TechCrunch
TechCrunch
3w ago 36 views

Former OpenAI and DeepMind researchers raise whopping $300M seed to automate science 

Periodic Labs has raised $300 million to automate scientific discovery using AI, aiming to create autonomous laboratories for material innovation.
Former OpenAI and DeepMind researchers raise whopping $300M seed to automate science 
A What happened
Periodic Labs has emerged from stealth mode with a significant $300 million seed funding round, backed by notable investors including Andreessen Horowitz and Jeff Bezos. Founded by Ekin Dogus Cubuk and Liam Fedus, both of whom have extensive backgrounds in AI and materials science, the startup's mission is to automate scientific discovery. Their initial focus is on developing new superconductors that outperform existing materials while requiring less energy. The company plans to create autonomous laboratories where robots will conduct experiments, collect data, and learn from their findings. This innovative approach aims not only to discover new materials but also to generate fresh data that can enhance AI models. Periodic Labs is part of a growing trend in the tech industry, where AI is increasingly being utilized to accelerate chemistry and materials research.

Key insights

  • 1

    Significant Funding

    Periodic Labs raised $300 million to advance AI in scientific research.

  • 2

    Founders' Expertise

    The founders have backgrounds in AI and materials science from top tech companies.

  • 3

    Automating Discovery

    The startup aims to create autonomous labs for conducting scientific experiments.

  • 4

    Focus on Superconductors

    Initial efforts will target the development of new superconducting materials.

  • 5

    Data Generation

    The labs will also produce valuable data for future AI model training.

Takeaways

Periodic Labs represents a significant advancement in the intersection of AI and scientific research.