Google launches AI tool to assist biomedical research and generate hypotheses

Google has developed an AI laboratory assistant called the co-scientist to aid biomedical research. This tool helps researchers identify knowledge gaps and generate new scientific hypotheses, potentially speeding up discoveries. Early tests with experts from Stanford University and Imperial College London showed the tool could reach significant conclusions quickly. For example, it identified a novel gene transfer mechanism similar to ongoing research at Imperial, which was still under peer review. The co-scientist uses multiple AI agents to mimic the scientific process, analyzing data from scientific papers and databases. It provides researchers with ranked proposals and sources, helping them navigate the vast amount of new information in their fields.