OpenAI Executive Launches Materials Science Startup

Liam Fedus Departs OpenAI to Launch Materials Science AI Venture

Liam Fedus, who held the position of VP of research for post-training at OpenAI, is transitioning from the company to establish a new startup focused on artificial intelligence within the field of materials science.

Initial reports regarding Fedus’ intentions were published by The Information. Subsequently, Fedus himself validated these reports via a statement posted on X, supplementing the information with further specifics.

A Return to Scientific Roots

“My academic background is rooted in physics, and I am eager to leverage AI technologies within that domain,” Fedus articulated in his statement. He further explained that OpenAI recognizes the critical importance of AI for scientific advancement.

According to Fedus, OpenAI views AI in science as a strategically vital area, particularly in the pursuit of artificial superintelligence. As a result, OpenAI intends to provide both investment and collaborative partnership to his newly formed company.

Competition in the Emerging AI Materials Science Landscape

Fedus’ new venture will operate within a competitive environment, facing off against established players such as Google DeepMind and Microsoft in the developing AI-driven materials science sector.

In 2023, DeepMind announced that its AI system, Gnome, had identified crystal structures with potential applications in the creation of innovative materials. Recently, Microsoft also introduced two AI tools – MatterGen and MatterSim – designed for materials discovery.

Skepticism Regarding AI's Scientific Capabilities

Despite these advancements, some specialists express reservations about the current capacity of AI to facilitate genuinely groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs.

Questions remain regarding whether existing AI technologies are truly capable of independent, novel scientific discovery.

Here's a summary of the key competitors:

• Google DeepMind: Developed the Gnome AI system for crystal discovery.
• Microsoft: Introduced MatterGen and MatterSim for materials discovery.
• Liam Fedus' Startup: Will focus on applying AI to materials science, backed by OpenAI.