Scientists have used artificial intelligence (AI) to discover a new antibiotic called abaucin that can kill Acinetobacter baumannii, a deadly species of superbug. The AI helped narrow down thousands of potential chemicals to a handful that were tested in the laboratory, resulting in the discovery of abaucin. The researchers believe that AI has the potential to accelerate the discovery of new drugs significantly. Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the three superbugs identified by the World Health Organization as a “critical” threat. The researchers trained the AI using known drugs and tested it on thousands of compounds to identify potential antibiotics. The next step is to perfect the drug in the laboratory and conduct clinical trials before it can be prescribed.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| New superbug-killing antibiotic discovered using AI | Discovery of new antibiotic using AI | More efficient and rapid discovery of antibiotics | Addressing antibiotic resistance and lack of new drugs |
| AI’s power to accelerate drug discovery | AI as a revolutionary force in science and medicine | Faster discovery of new drugs | Advancements in AI technology and need for new drugs |
| Lack of new drugs and antibiotic resistance | Bacteria becoming harder to treat | Improved treatment options for infections | Need to address antibiotic resistance and develop new drugs |
| AI’s role in screening potential compounds | AI screening millions of potential compounds | More efficient and cost-effective drug discovery process | Advancements in AI technology and need for new drugs |
| AI-aided antibiotic discovery | AI accelerating search for novel antibiotics | Enhanced search for antibiotics targeting specific pathogens | Need for novel antibiotics and advancements in AI technology |