At the recently released Build Developer Conference, Microsoft announced the launch of an enterprise-level platform called "Microsoft Discovery," which uses artificial intelligence technology to significantly accelerate scientific research and development. This platform has the potential to compress years of laboratory work into just weeks or even days, transforming the R&D models of industries such as pharmaceuticals, materials science, and semiconductors.

Biological experts, scientific research, microscope (2) laboratory

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"Microsoft Discovery" relies on specialized AI agents and high-performance computing to help scientists and engineers solve complex research challenges, without requiring users to have programming skills. Jason Zander, vice president of Microsoft's Strategic Missions and Technology, stated that the platform aims to combine advanced intelligent technologies with science to empower scientists and simplify the research process.

In the preliminary application of the platform, Microsoft successfully discovered a new coolant in just 200 hours, while the traditional method would take months or even years. Zander pointed out that the platform was able to screen 367,000 potential candidates, greatly accelerating the development process of the coolant.

"Microsoft Discovery" operates through a series of AI "postdoctoral" agents, which can perform multiple scientific processes such as literature review and computational simulation. This platform combines foundational models with specialized models for specific scientific fields such as physics, chemistry, and biology, enabling it to understand complex relationships across different disciplines.

The user interface adopts the Copilot design, allowing scientists to interact with AI through simple natural language, thereby more effectively managing their research work. This democratization of technology will be a boon for smaller research institutions lacking computational resources, enabling them to directly query complex simulations and experiments.

Currently, several companies, including pharmaceutical giant GSK and beauty brand Estée Lauder, have shown great interest in "Microsoft Discovery," aiming to accelerate drug development and product innovation through this platform. Additionally, Microsoft is collaborating with enterprises such as Nvidia and Synopsys to enhance research efficiency in materials and semiconductor fields.

Zander emphasized that the launch of this platform marks the future of scientific computing, which will combine with quantum computing technology to open up a new wave of scientific discovery. Through the "Microsoft Discovery" platform, Microsoft is striving to shorten the R&D cycle for addressing global challenges, enabling faster innovation.

Key points:

🌟 ** Reshaping Scientific Research **: Microsoft's AI platform can compress years of R&D into weeks.

🔬 ** Simplifying User Experience **: Scientists can interact with AI through natural language, eliminating programming bottlenecks.

🚀 ** Multi-industry Applications **: Companies in the pharmaceutical and beauty industries have actively collaborated with Microsoft to accelerate product development processes.