Google DeepMind's New AI Just Did in Minutes What Took Scientists Years

Summary

This video delves into the revolutionary AI models AlphaFold and AlphaProto by Google DeepMind, which are transforming drug discovery and material science. AlphaFold predicts protein interactions, while AlphaProto designs new proteins, or 'binders,' that can target specific molecules, potentially aiding in disease-fighting. The video also introduces ORB, an AI model by Orbital that simulates advanced materials at the atomic level, outperforming tech giants and offering a significant leap in material design for renewable energy.

Takeaways

• 🔬 AlphaFold and AlphaProto are AI models revolutionizing protein interaction prediction and creation.
• 🛡️ AlphaProto by Google DeepMind can design new proteins, or 'binders', that can bind to specific target molecules.
• 💊 These designed proteins have the potential to accelerate drug discovery and understand disease mechanisms.
• 🌟 AlphaProto's binders showed 3 to 300 times better binding strengths compared to traditional methods in lab tests.
• 🦠 Successful binders were created for targets like cancer-related proteins and the SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein.
• 🛑 AlphaProto's design for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein could help in virus prevention by blocking infection.
• 🔬 The AI system is trained on extensive protein data, including structures from the Protein Data Bank and AlphaFold.
• 🌐 Collaborations with global scientists are ongoing to enhance the system's capabilities and ensure responsible use.
• 🔄 AlphaProto is also exploring applications in drug design and improving algorithms for versatility.
• 💡 ORB is an AI model for simulating advanced materials, offering significant speed and accuracy improvements over existing models.
• 🌐 ORB is open-source, allowing non-commercial users to access its advanced material simulation capabilities for free.

Q & A

What is the primary function of proteins in our bodies?

Proteins serve as the workhorses of our bodies, performing a wide range of functions from aiding in cell growth to maintaining the smooth operation of our immune systems, and are central to nearly every biological process.

How do proteins interact with each other?

Proteins interact with each other by binding, similar to a key fitting into a lock, which allows for the execution of critical functions within our cells.

What is AlphaFold and what does it do?

AlphaFold is an AI model that predicts how proteins interact with each other, providing a solid understanding of their binding interactions, which has been significant for scientific research.

How does AlphaProto differ from AlphaFold?

While AlphaFold is adept at predicting protein interactions, AlphaProto goes a step further by designing entirely new proteins that can bind to specific target molecules.

What are the potential applications of AlphaProto's designed proteins?

AlphaProto's designed proteins, also known as binders, can accelerate research in drug discovery, disease understanding, and enhancing crop resistance to pests.

How does AlphaProto create a protein that binds to a target?

AlphaProto uses its training on extensive protein data to design a binder protein that fits a target almost perfectly, given the structure of the target protein.

What was the success rate of AlphaProto's binders in lab tests?

AlphaProto's binders demonstrated a success rate of 3 to 300 times better binding strengths compared to existing methods, with 88% of candidate binders successfully binding to the bhrf1 protein in lab tests.

How does AlphaProto contribute to the fight against diseases like COVID-19?

AlphaProto has designed binders for the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, which were confirmed by research groups to block the virus and some of its variants from infecting cells, potentially aiding in virus prevention.

What is ORB and how does it relate to material science?

ORB is an AI model designed to simulate materials at the atomic level more quickly and accurately than existing alternatives, significantly advancing material science research.

Why is ORB's open-source availability significant for the scientific community?

ORB's open-source availability allows for non-commercial use by startups and researchers, enabling faster development of new materials crucial for renewable energy and technological advancements.

How does ORB compare to other AI models in terms of speed and accuracy?

ORB outperforms both Google's and Microsoft's models, being five times faster for large-scale simulations and more accurate, making it a leading tool in material simulations.

Outlines

00:00

🧬 Alpha Proteo: Revolutionizing Protein Design

The first paragraph introduces two AI models, Alpha Fold and Alpha Proto, which are transforming drug discovery and material science. Alpha Fold is lauded for its ability to predict protein interactions, a critical aspect of biological processes. However, it falls short in creating new proteins. Alpha Proto, developed by Google DeepMind, not only predicts these interactions but also designs new proteins, known as binders, that can bind to specific target molecules. This innovation accelerates research in drug discovery, disease understanding, and crop resistance. Traditional protein binder creation is a slow, iterative process of trial and error. In contrast, Alpha Proto offers a significant shortcut by utilizing a vast dataset from the Protein Data Bank and Alpha Fold's predicted structures. It designs binders that fit target proteins with remarkable precision. The AI's binders have shown impressive binding strengths, outperforming existing methods by 3 to 300 times. Notable successes include binders for cancer-related proteins and the SARS-CoV-2 virus, with some even blocking virus infection. Despite challenges with certain proteins like TNFA, the model is actively being improved in collaboration with global scientists, emphasizing responsible biotechnology use.

05:00

🔬 ORB: The Frontier of AI in Material Science

The second paragraph discusses ORB, an AI model developed by Orbital that simulates advanced materials at the atomic level with unprecedented speed and accuracy. ORB is a significant leap forward in material science, outperforming both Google's and Microsoft's models in large-scale simulations. It is based on an extensive AI model called Linus, which has been fine-tuned for material simulations. ORB's open-source nature makes it accessible for non-commercial uses, fostering innovation in material development for renewable energy technologies like electric car batteries and solar panels. The model's speed and accuracy are crucial for the energy transition, as it accelerates the design and realization of more efficient materials. The paragraph also highlights the importance of responsible development and the collaboration between experts in various fields to harness ORB's potential. The team behind ORB, despite being a small startup, has made a significant impact in the AI and tech industry, showcasing the potential for innovation outside of large tech giants.

Keywords

💡AI Models

AI models refer to the algorithms and systems designed to perform specific tasks, such as predicting protein interactions or simulating materials. In the video, groundbreaking AI models like AlphaFold and ORB are discussed, which are reshaping fields like drug discovery and material science. AlphaFold is particularly highlighted for its ability to predict protein interactions, while AlphaProto is introduced as an AI system that can design new proteins.

💡Proteins

Proteins are complex molecules that perform a vast array of functions within living organisms, including cell growth and immune system regulation. The video emphasizes the importance of proteins and their interactions, which are critical for biological processes. AlphaFold and AlphaProto are mentioned as tools that can predict and even create new proteins to interact with specific target molecules.

💡AlphaFold

AlphaFold is an AI system developed by DeepMind that predicts the 3D structures of proteins. It is highlighted in the video for its significant contribution to understanding how proteins interact, which is crucial for scientific advancements in various fields. The video suggests that while AlphaFold is excellent at predicting interactions, it does not create new proteins.

💡AlphaProto

AlphaProto is a new AI system by Google DeepMind that not only predicts protein interactions but also designs entirely new proteins. The video explains that AlphaProto can create proteins, known as binders, that can bind to specific target molecules, which is a significant advancement in research areas such as drug discovery and understanding diseases.

💡Binders

In the context of the video, binders refer to proteins designed to bind tightly to a target molecule, such as a virus protein. The creation of these binders is a complex process that AlphaProto can expedite. The video provides examples of AlphaProto-generated binders that have shown improved binding strengths compared to traditional methods.

💡Drug Discovery

Drug discovery is the process of identifying and developing new drugs to treat diseases. The video discusses how AI models like AlphaProto can accelerate this process by designing proteins that bind to specific targets, which can lead to the development of new therapeutics. The potential of these AI-designed proteins to influence drug discovery is a central theme of the video.

💡Material Science

Material science is the study of the properties and applications of materials. The video introduces ORB, an AI model that simulates advanced materials at the atomic level, which is a significant development in material science. ORB's ability to simulate materials faster and more accurately than previous methods is highlighted as a breakthrough that could impact renewable energy and technology advancements.

💡ORB

ORB is an AI model developed by Orbital that simulates materials at the atomic level for advanced material design. The video emphasizes ORB's speed and accuracy, which are five times faster than the best alternatives for large-scale simulations. ORB's open-source nature allows non-commercial users and startups to access this technology, potentially accelerating material innovations.

💡Bioengineering

Bioengineering involves the application of engineering principles to biological systems or processes. In the video, the term is related to the further development and application of AI-designed proteins for real-world uses, such as drug design. The video suggests that while strong binding is a critical first step, there is still significant bioengineering work to be done to realize these proteins' full potential.

💡Biocurity

Biocurity refers to the responsible and ethical use of biotechnology, ensuring that powerful technologies are used for beneficial purposes. The video mentions that the team behind AlphaProto is thinking about biocurity, indicating a commitment to using AI advancements like protein design for good, such as developing treatments and environmental cleanup, rather than for harmful applications.

Highlights

AI models AlphaFold and AlphaProto are revolutionizing drug discovery and material science.

Proteins are essential for various biological processes, including cell growth and immune system function.

AlphaFold predicts protein interactions, a significant advancement for scientific research.

AlphaProto goes beyond prediction by designing new proteins that can bind to specific target molecules.

Designed proteins, or binders, have potential applications in drug discovery, disease research, and crop resistance.

Traditional protein binder creation is a slow and iterative process.

AlphaProto offers a major shortcut by designing binder proteins that fit target proteins almost perfectly.

AlphaProto's designed binders have shown 3 to 300 times better binding strengths than existing methods.

AI-designed protein binders successfully bind to target proteins like VGFA and bhrf1.

AlphaProto binders block the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, potentially aiding in virus prevention.

AlphaProto faced challenges with designing a successful binder for the difficult tnfa protein.

The team behind AlphaProto is working on improving the system and considering biosecurity.

Orb, an AI model by Orbital, is a breakthrough in simulating advanced materials.

Orb is five times faster than the best alternatives for large-scale material simulations.

Orb is open-sourced for non-commercial use, making advanced material simulation accessible.

Orb's speed and accuracy can accelerate the development of renewable energy materials.

Orb is the result of fine-tuning a larger AI model called Linus by Orbital.

Orb's development showcases how a small, motivated team can compete with major tech giants.

Transcripts

[Music]

what if AI could not only predict how

proteins interact but actually create

new ones to fight diseases like c19 or

cancer in this video we're exploring two

groundbreaking AI models Alpha poo and

orb that are reshaping everything from

drug Discovery to Material Science and

before we get started take a second to

subscribe and stay ahead of the curve on

all the latest AI Trends and updates all

right you know how proteins are like the

workhorses of our bodies right they do

everything from helping our cells grow

to keeping our immune systems running

smoothly and of course they're at the

core of pretty much every biological

process but here's the catch these

proteins don't just do their jobs in

isolation they interact with other

proteins think of it like a key fitting

into a lock one protein binds to another

and that's how all these critical

functions happen inside our cells now

thanks to things like Alpha fold we

already have a pretty solid

understanding of how proteins interact

Alpha fold helps us predict what these

interactions look like which has been

huge for science but here's the kicker

while Alpha fold is awesome at figuring

out how proteins connect it doesn't

create new proteins that could

manipulate or influence these

interactions and that's where the real

magic comes in guys enter Alpha proteo

by Google Deep Mind this is the new AI

system we're talking about today it

doesn't just predict interactions it

designs entirely new proteins that can

bind to specific Target molecules and

why is that important well these

designed proteins also called binders

can speed up all sorts of research from

drug Discovery to figuring out how

diseases work to making crops more

resistant to pests now let's break this

down when you want to create a protein

that binds tightly to a Target like say

a virus protein that causes c19 it's not

easy traditional methods are super slow

you have to create binders in the lab

test them optimize them then test them

again it's like an endless cycle of

trial and error which as you can guess

takes forever but with Alpha Proto we're

talking about a major shortcut this AI

system has been trained on a ton of

protein data we're talking about data

from the protein data bank and more than

100 million predicted structures from

alpha fold so yeah it's learned a thing

or two about how proteins interact now

if you give Alpha proteo the structure

of a Target protein and tell it where

you want the protein to bind it can

design a binder protein that fits that

Target almost perfect perfectly that's

like handing it the blueprint for a lock

and having it design the perfect key and

it works on all kinds of proteins cancer

related proteins proteins from viruses

like SARS COV 2 yes the one involved in

the lockdown era the c19 and even

proteins tied to autoimmune diseases so

far the results are pretty mindblowing

in fact Alpha proteo generated binders

for seven different Target proteins and

here's the kicker they tested these

proteins in the lab and the AI designed

binders worked like a charm I'm talking

about 3 to 300 times better binding

strengths than the best existing methods

insane right for example let's take V

GFA which is a protein linked to cancer

and diabetes complications for the first

time ever an AI system Alpha poo

designed a protein binder that

successfully binds to V GFA that alone

is a huge milestone and it's not just

oneoff successes let's take another

protein be bhrf1 which is a viral

protein in the lab 88% of alpha proteo

candidate binders actually bound to

bhrf1 successfully and get this Alpha

proteo binders on average are binding 10

times stronger than any of the current

best designs now one of the most hyped

targets was the SARS c 2 Spike protein

the very same Spike that helps the virus

get into our cells and yeah Alpha Proto

nailed it not only did it design binders

for this Spike protein but those binders

were tested by some top research groups

like The Francis cric Institute and they

confirmed the binders were legit these

binders even managed to block the virus

and some of its variants from infecting

cells so we're looking at something that

could potentially help in virus

prevention now obviously this Tech isn't

perfect yet for example Alpha proteo

couldn't design a successful binder for

tnfa which is a protein associated with

autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid

arthritis but to be fair tnfa is known

to be a beast in terms of difficulty the

team picked it on purpose to test the

limits of the system so it's not all bad

news in fact it's a sign that they're

pushing the system to improve and while

strong binding is critical it's just the

first step in using these proteins for

real world applications like drug design

there's still a ton of bioengineering

work to do but Alpha proteo has already

knocked out one of the toughest parts

now the team behind Alpha Proto is

working with Scientists across the world

to make this system even better and

they're thinking responsibly about

biocurity that means making sure this

powerful Tech is used for good like

developing treatments and cleaning the

environment rather than you know any

Shady stuff and if you're wondering

where this is going well they've already

teamed up with groups like The Nuclear

threat initiative to set up best

practices so the tech is evolving but

with caution which is honestly a relief

looking ahead they're also exploring

drug design applications with a company

called isomorphic labs and they're

actively working on improving the

algorithms to make the system even

stronger and more versatile and they're

not just doing this in a vacuum they're

collaborating with experts in machine

learning biochemistry and structural

biology so the future of protein design

yeah it's looking pretty exciting all

right now there is another thing I'm

seriously hyped about and it's actually

a massive breakthrough in Ai and

Material Science we're talking about orb

the latest and greatest AI model for

simulating Advanced Materials it's open

source course it's blazing fast and it's

leaving Big names like Google and

Microsoft in the dust if you're into AI

energy or just Cutting Edge Tech you're

going to love this so let me break it

down for you imagine you're a scientist

working on materials for say better

batteries or solar panels things that

are crucial for the energy transition

right well here's the thing to design

these super efficient materials you need

to know exactly what's happening at the

atomic level we're talking about how

atoms and molecules are interacting what

makes certain materials conduct energy

better or how you can tweak them to be

more efficient but and this is the

tricky part actually seeing or

simulating what's happening inside these

materials is insanely hard traditional

methods for simulating this stuff

they're slow costly and often involves

simplifying things so much that you're

not even getting an accurate picture

it's like trying to watch a 4K movie on

dialup Internet it's just not happening

and that's where AI comes in giving us a

new way to look at these materials with

way more detail without waiting forever

this brings us to orb the model we're

talking about today built by a company

called orbital orb is designed to

simulate materials at the atomic level

faster and more accurately than anything

else out there right now and get this

it's based on a bigger AI model they've

been working on internally called Linus

so basically they've been fine-tuning

this thing for a while now and it's

paying off in a huge way now orb isn't

just faster than the competition I it's

five times faster than the best

alternatives for large scale simulations

that's a huge leap forward and we're not

just talking about beating random models

either orb is outperforming Google's and

Microsoft models when it comes to

accuracy and speed and here's where

things get even more exciting they've

open sourced it yep it's free for

non-commercial uses in startups so

anyone looking to develop new materials

can jump in and use this Tech you can

even go to their GitHub right now and

check out the full technical breakdown

now now let me pause here for a second

to explain why this is so important

we're in the middle of a massive shift

toward renewable energy and materials

are at the heart of that whether it's

batteries for electric cars solar panels

for homes or semiconductors for

basically all of our Tech the materials

we use need to get better more efficient

longer lasting you name it and the

faster we can simulate and design these

materials the faster we can make them a

reality orb is a tool that's going to

accelerate that process in a big way

now if you're wondering how orb came to

be it all ties back to this Foundation

model I mentioned earlier lonus the team

at orbital has been training and

refining Linus from the ground up orb is

like Linus on steroids specifically

fine-tuned for advanced material

simulations they've got a whole blog

explaining the key elements if you want

to dive into the technical side and

they've got even more info coming soon

so yeah this isn't some random new AI

model it's been a long time coming and

can we just take a second to appreciate

the team behind this this isn't some

massive Tech Giant with endless

resources we're talking about a small

tight-knit group that's competing with

the biggest names in AI Google Microsoft

and so on it's proof that even in an era

where it seems like only the Giants can

make big moves a scrappy motivated

startup can still come out on top so

there you have it orb the fastest and

most accurate AI model for advanced

material simulations is out there and

it's free to use for non-commercial

purposes I can't wait to see see where

this goes as always drop your thoughts

in the comments are you as excited about

this as I am smash that like button and

don't forget to subscribe for more deep

dives into Ai and Tech thanks for

watching and I'll see you in the next

one