Google unveils AI co-scientists to aid research

Google has unveiled an Artificial Intelligence system designed to assist scientists in generating research hypotheses and planning experiments, as the US blue-chip firm deepens its push into AI-powered research tools.

In a blog post on Wednesday, the company said that the AI Co-Scientist system is built on Google’s Gemini 2.0 model and allows researchers to specify a scientific goal in natural language.

It then suggests testable hypotheses, summarises relevant published literature, and proposes possible experimental approaches.

“AI Co-Scientist is a collaborative tool to help experts gather research and refine their work — it’s not meant to automate the scientific process,” the tech giant said. “We’re excited to see how researchers will use the system.”

Google’s move comes as AI plays a growing role in scientific research, with companies and institutions exploring its potential to accelerate discoveries in medicine, climate science, and materials engineering.

The AI Co-Scientist system, which Google describes as an assistive tool rather than a replacement for human expertise, is expected to support researchers in forming novel hypotheses, particularly in complex fields like disease modelling and molecular biology.