

Transforming R&D with AI: Breaking barriers and boosting productivity
10 snips Sep 24, 2025
Ravi Rajamani, Managing Director and Global Head of AI Blackbelts at Google Cloud, and Ben Meigs, Associate Partner at McKinsey specializing in AI in R&D, discuss the urgent need to improve declining R&D productivity. They highlight how AI can revolutionize processes, from design to validation. The duo emphasizes strategic investments in AI, the importance of fostering a culture of experimentation, and the need for effective governance. They warn that early adopters of AI will gain a significant advantage, compelling organizations to act swiftly.
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AI Can Reverse Declining R&D Returns
- R&D productivity is declining as each dollar yields less innovation over time.
- AI has potential to bend this curve by accelerating R&D processes across industries.
Google's 30% AI-Assisted Code Milestone
- Sundar Pichai announced that 30% of Google's new code is AI-assisted and the figure keeps rising.
- Ravi stresses engineers still review and accept AI-generated code, keeping human oversight central.
Adoption Varies By Domain
- AI adoption appears in pockets with more maturity in simulation and surrogate models.
- Hardware engineering adoption lags but pilots and selective use cases are emerging.