The Stack Overflow Podcast

“There is a real cost to moving fast”: Using AI to accelerate drug discovery

12 snips
Apr 10, 2025
Join Maureen Makes, VP of Engineering at Recursion, and Alan Brandenberger, Senior Director at Stack Overflow, as they delve into the game-changing role of AI in drug discovery. They discuss how AI streamlines the analysis of complex biological data, speeding up the identification of potential drug interactions. The conversation also highlights the significance of community-driven knowledge in software development and the innovative tools that are reshaping engineering practices. Don't miss their insights on balancing innovation with quality in biotech.
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ANECDOTE

Bandwidth Issues

  • Recursion's data generation exceeded their building's bandwidth.
  • They had to increase the fiber optic cable diameter to handle the data volume.
INSIGHT

Data Locality

  • Data locality is a major concern for Recursion due to international expansion.
  • They prioritize keeping relevant data close to their HPC resources to minimize egress costs.
INSIGHT

Non-Linear Scaling of AI

  • Generative AI scales non-linearly, unlike traditional software.
  • This presents new challenges regarding data capacity, throttling, and data protection.
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