In December 2020, Google’s AlphaFold2 revolutionized protein science by solving the protein folding problem using artificial intelligence. This breakthrough, which was five times more accurate than its closest competitor, had profound implications for understanding diseases, creating new medicines, and exploring the mysteries of life. While this success marked a significant shift in how biologists study proteins, it also highlighted the importance of biological experiments and inspired new algorithms and biotech companies. The story of AlphaFold’s success not only changed protein science but also raised questions about the future of artificial intelligence in biology, leaving researchers pondering what comes next.
https://www.quantamagazine.org/how-ai-revolutionized-protein-science-but-didnt-end-it-20240626/