OpenAI Podcast Episode 10 - How AI Is Accelerating Scientific Discovery Today and What's Ahead
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Nov 20, 2025 
Join Kevin Weil, Head of OpenAI for Science, and Alex Lupsasca, a physicist and research scientist at OpenAI, as they explore the transformative role of AI in scientific discovery. They discuss GPT-5's ability to accelerate research across fields, from complex calculations in physics to literature searches in biology. Alex shares exciting examples, like uncovering black hole symmetries, while Kevin emphasizes the collaborative potential of AI. With predictions for rapid advancements, they envision a future where AI drastically reshapes scientific workflows and breakthroughs.
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Mission To Speed Scientific Progress
- OpenAI for Science aims to compress decades of scientific progress into years by putting frontier models into scientists' hands.
- GPT-5 already shows early examples of novel scientific capabilities that seed larger future acceleration.
Special-Function Sum Solved Quickly
- Alex asked GPT to evaluate an infinite sum and it tracked down a 1950s identity and produced a near-complete derivation.
- The model made a small typo but saved hours of specialist work and revealed surprising capability.
Cross-Field Literature Discovery
- GPT-5 can perform conceptual literature searches across languages and fields, surfacing obscure, relevant work humans miss.
- This cross-field retrieval converts lost or niche work into practical accelerants for current research.