Blink twice and you’ll miss the latest publication on AI-guided protein design. From structures solved using AlphaFold to de novo proteins generated at the click of a button, scientists are putting AI to work at various stages of the protein design workflow. When looking at how far the field has already come, it’s easy to forget that these are still the early days for lab-in-the-loop protein design. This talk will highlight what it takes to get to real outcomes today, the challenges R&D teams still face when climbing towards their target protein profile, and what lies ahead.

The hype around Artificial Intelligence (AI) in drug discovery and synthetic biology has never been higher. With over $5 billion invested in AI-driven biotech startups in 2024 alone, the industry is racing to redefine biological design. But are we on the cusp of true transformation, or are there fundamental limits to what AI can achieve? In this panel, leading AI/ML pioneers and biotech innovators will explore the evolving landscape of AI in biological design. From accelerating drug discovery pipelines to engineering novel biomolecules, we’ll discuss the breakthroughs, bottlenecks, and the shifting role of high-throughput experimentation in an AI-first world. What will it take to move from promise to impact? And how can material providers and technology enablers help push the boundaries? Join us for a dynamic conversation on the future of AI in biotech—where it’s headed, and what it will take to get there.