Biotech firm aims to create ‘ChatGPT of biology’ – will it work?
New ScientistTuesday, June 17, 2025 at 8:13:20 PM
A UK biotech company has spent years compiling a massive genetic database, uncovering a million new microbial species and billions of previously unknown genes. Now, they’re trying to use that data to build an AI system that could revolutionize biology—think of it as a "ChatGPT for life sciences." But here’s the catch: even with all that data, training an AI to truly understand biology might be a lot harder than they think.
Editor’s Note: This isn’t just another tech moonshot—it’s a bold attempt to merge cutting-edge AI with the messy, unpredictable world of biology. If it works, it could accelerate drug discovery, environmental science, and even our understanding of life itself. But the story also highlights a sobering reality: biology is complicated, and even mountains of data might not be enough to crack its secrets. For anyone interested in where AI meets real-world science, this is a fascinating case study in ambition versus reality.
— Curated via WP Now’s
