Microsoft Says AI Service Will Accelerate Scientific Discovery

Microsoft Corp. is using powerful computers and artificial intelligence to help researchers speed up the painstaking work required to discover new chemical compounds and materials that could be used for everything from batteries to eco-friendly paints.

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory used the company’s Azure Quantum Elements service to quickly assess 32 million potential materials for a new battery, according to Jason Zander, Microsoft’s executive vice president for strategic missions and technologies. The Department of Energy facility turned up 18 promising candidates after using the service for just 80 hours—a process that would take decades using traditional research methods. AkzoNobel, the paint company, has also ...