AI comes up with battery design that uses 70 per cent less lithium
New ScientistJAN 2024
AI: Newly-Discovered Material Could Reduce Lithium Use in Batteries
Image copyright: Ethan Miller/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Microsoft’s cutting-edge AI technology continues to lead the world to new scientific horizons and possibilities. The discovery of a new material that holds the potential to be used to create batteries that use vastly fewer resources is a major breakthrough. With a new era of science just getting started, the company's contributions to bettering humanity are just getting started.
Narrative B
The potential for artificial intelligence to progress scientific discoveries is undeniable, but given how quickly the technology is evolving, it might be a good idea for the government to impose the precautionary principle, which places the burden of proof on innovators to prove their work won't cause unintended future harm. This is a promising discovery, but more caution is warranted.