A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine workshop will explore how artificial intelligence can be used to conduct research and pursue scientific discovery autonomously. AI and computer science experts from private industry, federal science agencies, and research institutions will examine what it means for AI to perform research autonomously, where AI technology currently stands, the gaps and hurdles that will need to be overcome to achieve autonomous scientific discovery, and which scientific disciplines should invest more in using AI.  

The workshop will also explore the ethical aspects and potential pitfalls of using autonomous AI in science, next steps for the research community, and grand challenges for AI in science.  

Speakers include: 

• Anthony Bak, head of AI and machine learning, Palantir Technologies 
• Steve Chien, technical fellow, artificial intelligence, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology 
• Peter Clark, interim CEO, Allen Institute for AI (AI2) 
• Glenn Cohen, deputy dean, Harvard Law School 
• Susan Gregurick, director, Division of Biomedical Technology, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, National Institutes of Health 
• Shirley Ho, group leader, Cosmology X Data Science, Flatiron Institute 
• Andre Kanaev, program director, Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure, National Science Foundation 
• Hiroaki Kitano, CEO, Sony AI 
• Hod Lipson, professor of mechanical engineering, Columbia University 
• Peter Madrid, head of scientific discovery, Synfini Inc. 
• Patrick Riley, senior vice president, AI at Relay Therapeutics 
• Chitra Sivanandam, co-founder, Rohirrim 
• Lynda Stuart, executive director, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington 
• Manuela Veloso, managing director and head of AI research, JPMorgan Chase 

• Anthony Bak, head of AI and machine learning, Palantir Technologies 
• Steve Chien, technical fellow, artificial intelligence, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology 
• Peter Clark, interim CEO, Allen Institute for AI (AI2) 
• Glenn Cohen, deputy dean, Harvard Law School 
• Susan Gregurick, director, Division of Biomedical Technology, Bioinformatics, and Computational Biology, National Institutes of Health 
• Shirley Ho, group leader, Cosmology X Data Science, Flatiron Institute 
• Andre Kanaev, program director, Office of Advanced Cyberinfrastructure, National Science Foundation 
• Hiroaki Kitano, CEO, Sony AI 
• Hod Lipson, professor of mechanical engineering, Columbia University 
• Peter Madrid, head of scientific discovery, Synfini Inc. 
• Patrick Riley, senior vice president, AI at Relay Therapeutics 
• Chitra Sivanandam, co-founder, Rohirrim 
• Lynda Stuart, executive director, Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington 
• Manuela Veloso, managing director and head of AI research, JPMorgan Chase 

DETAILS:

Oct. 12, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. EDT 
Oct. 13, 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. EDT
Registration 

For more information, reporters should contact the Office of News and Public Information; 202-334-2138 or email news@nas.edu.