Introducing AlphaFold: How AI is already solving some of humanity's biggest problems

In the wake of the unveiling of OpenAI's ChatGPT, chatbots are enjoying a newfound surge in attention and investment. These AI-driven entities, trained on vast volumes of human-generated data to predict the subsequent word in a sentence, can evoke laughter, inspire awe, and occasionally court controversy.

Yet, what if we shifted our focus? Instead of striving to create AI systems that imitate human interaction, what if we aimed to develop them to grapple with some of humanity's most stubborn and complex challenges?

In 2020, Google DeepMind introduced an AI tool that might pave the way for this very revolution. Named AlphaFold, this system utilises deep learning to tackle one of biology's most elusive problems: protein folding. For over half a century, scientists have sought to understand and predict protein structures - a quest crucial for scientific advances ranging from vaccine and drug creation to the curing of genetic diseases. Despite decades of research, progress remained painstakingly slow.

Enter AlphaFold. The year 2022 marked a milestone as AlphaFold identified nearly 200 million protein shapes, encapsulating virtually every protein known to humans. This was not just a step forward; it was a giant leap for biology and, more broadly, for AI's potential role in scientific discovery.

DeepMind isn't stopping at protein structures. It's also channelling efforts into building similar systems aimed at expediting progress in nuclear fusion. Moreover, it has spun off a new venture named Isomorphic Labs, focused on harnessing AI for drug discovery.

The brainchild behind AlphaFold is Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google DeepMind. His vision extends beyond the capabilities of current AI models, suggesting an alternative pathway for AI development that focuses on solving intricate problems plaguing humanity.

Hassabis' perspective opens up a new realm of possibilities for AI. Instead of limiting its potential to mimic human conversation, it can be seen as a powerful tool capable of breakthroughs in areas once thought beyond its reach. AlphaFold and its future counterparts might not only fold proteins but also fold the future towards scientific and technological advances we've yet to imagine.