NAII Distinguished Lecture: Leveraging AI to advance Science
Speaker: Dr Pushmeet Kohli, Distinguished Scientist and VP of Research at Google DeepMind
Date: Wednesday, April 1 2026
Time: 2:30pm – 4.00pm
Venue:
University Hall Auditorium (Level 2 of Lee Kong Chian Wing) 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119077
Please register for the lecture here.
Abstract:
Throughout history, scientific progress has been defined by the tools we build to extend our perception. Today, artificial intelligence stands as our newest instrument – not merely a computational engine, but a revolutionary lens for deciphering the nature of reality. This talk will cover the philosophy and approach of Google DeepMind’s AI for Science program. In particular, I will discuss our approach to selecting “root node” problems at different scales of Science – from predicting the shape and function of proteins to understanding the effect of genomic variants – and how we leverage AI toward their solution. I will conclude by reflecting on the transition toward open-ended, agentic AI systems that actively generate novel hypotheses, and their implications for the future of scientific inquiry.
Biography:
Pushmeet Kohli is a Distinguished Scientist and VP of Research at Google DeepMind. He founded and leads the AI for Science and Strategic Initiatives Unit, which uses AI for breakthroughs in biology, materials, fusion, math, software, and cybersecurity. His team developed AlphaEvolve for accelerating AI research and SynthID for safe AI deployment. Key achievements include the Nobel Prize-winning AlphaFold model for protein structure prediction, one of the most cited AI biology papers (40,000+ citations). AlphaFold was the basis for the DeepMind spin-off, Isomorphic Labs. Kohli’s team also pioneered large language model-based AI agents like AlphaEvolve and AI Co-Scientist, leading to discoveries in math and biology. Before DeepMind, he spent a decade at Microsoft Research, becoming Director of Research for the Cognition group. His doctoral thesis received the Sullivan Doctoral Thesis Award. In 2023, TIME recognized him as one of the 100 most influential people in AI.
