How AI Could Help Us Discover Miracle Drugs
Plain English with Derek Thompson
Mapping Realities: The Language of Life and Machines
Generative AI, like AlphaFold, exemplifies the power of mapping complex systems—human language and biological processes. Just as generative AI uses mathematical structures to interpret and respond in human language, AlphaFold analyzes amino acid sequences to predict protein structures that underpin life itself. This comparison emphasizes that both processes involve combining basic units—words for language and amino acids for proteins—into vast combinations that yield unique expressions and functionalities. The existence of these 'languages,' which extend beyond human fluency, hints at the potential for uncovering more intricate systems within nature, suggesting that there are languages of reality yet to be understood that could illuminate new domains of knowledge, from genetics to neuroscience.
