Artificial intelligence labs race to turn virtual materials into real-world breakthroughs

Startups like Lila Sciences, Periodic Labs, and Radical AI are betting that autonomous labs guided by artificial intelligence can finally turn decades of virtual materials predictions into real compounds with commercial impact, but the field is still waiting for a definitive breakthrough. Their challenge is to move beyond simulations and hype to deliver synthesized, tested materials that industry will actually adopt.

The great Artificial Intelligence hype correction of 2025

After a breakneck cycle of product launches and bold promises, the Artificial Intelligence industry is entering a more sober phase as stalled adoption, diminishing leaps in model performance, and shaky business models force a reset in expectations. Researchers, investors, and executives are now reassessing what large language models can and cannot do, and what kind of Artificial Intelligence future is realistically taking shape.

Sam Altman’s role in shaping Artificial Intelligence hype

Sam Altman’s sweeping promises about superintelligent systems and techno-utopia have helped define how Silicon Valley and the public imagine the future of Artificial Intelligence, often ahead of what the technology can actually prove.