This Startup is Revolutionizing Material Discovery with AI
In a world increasingly focused on the capabilities of text-, image-, and movie-generating AI, one startup is taking a different approach. Orbital Materials, founded by Jonathan Godwin, a former senior researcher at DeepMind, is leveraging the power of AI to support the discovery and manufacturing of new physical materials. By combining expertise in AI and materials science, Orbital Materials is revolutionizing the way materials are developed and bringing them from the computer into the real world.
The Need for AI in Material Discovery
Traditional methods of discovering new materials have long relied on time-consuming trial and error processes in the lab. These processes often result in years of experimentation before achieving success. Recognizing the limitations of these traditional methods, Godwin was inspired to create a new type of organization that could bring AI experts and materials scientists together. By doing so, Orbital Materials aims to accelerate the discovery and development of advanced materials.
The Role of AI in Materials Design
Crafting a new material is not an intuitive process. Achieving specific properties, such as lightweightness and rigidity, requires identifying the corresponding physical and chemical structures and understanding the processes needed to create them. Additionally, the material must be thoroughly stress-tested under various conditions to ensure its suitability for different applications.
While AI cannot solve all the challenges inherent in materials design, it can save both time and money by using computations to map out which properties and processes might yield specific types of materials. By leveraging AI technology, technical decision-makers at chemistry and materials companies can develop new products more efficiently to meet the growing demand for advanced materials.
Orbital Materials’ AI-Powered Platform
Orbital Materials has developed an AI-powered platform called Linus, which serves as the backbone of the startup’s lab in New Jersey. Linus was trained on a large dataset of simulations and materials, ranging from batteries and semiconductors to catalysts and organic molecules. Scientists using Linus can enter natural language instructions describing the desired properties of a material, and the system generates a 3D molecular structure that meets the criteria.
Linus employs an iterative refinement process, starting with a random cloud of atoms and gradually refining the structure until it satisfies the given instructions. This innovative approach allows researchers to explore a wide range of possibilities in a shorter time frame, enabling them to discover new materials that were previously unattainable through traditional methods.
Advancements in Materials R&D
While Orbital Materials is at the forefront of using AI in materials research and development, it is not the only player in this field. Osmium AI, another startup backed by Y Combinator, enables industrial customers to predict the physical properties of new materials using AI. Academic researchers have also proposed various ways to speed up material design workflows through AI and large databases of molecules.
Even DeepMind, the AI giant, has ventured into materials research, announcing the discovery of millions of crystals using AI-based algorithms. However, what sets Orbital Materials apart is its proprietary AI model for materials science. Inspired by the successes of large language models like AlphaFold, Orbital Materials has created a diverse dataset that gives its AI model remarkable capabilities.
Bringing New Materials to the Real World
Orbital Materials’ ultimate goal is not to manufacture materials itself but to bring them to the proof of concept or pilot demonstration phase. Once a material has reached this stage, Orbital Materials seeks partnerships with external manufacturers to take the materials from the lab to commercialization. This collaborative approach allows Orbital Materials to focus on what it does best — material discovery — while leveraging the expertise of manufacturers to bring these materials to market.
Funding and Expansion
To support its ambitious goals, Orbital Materials recently raised $16 million in a Series A funding round led by Radical Ventures, with participation from Toyota Ventures. This investment brings the total raised by Orbital Materials to approximately $21 million. The new capital will be used to expand the data science and wet lab teams, enabling Orbital Materials to further develop its AI-powered platform and accelerate materials discovery.
Future Prospects and Impact
Orbital Materials’ technology has the potential to revolutionize industries that rely on advanced materials, such as electronics, energy storage, and environmental sustainability. By enabling the rapid discovery and development of new materials, Orbital Materials can contribute to the electrification and decarbonization of economies worldwide.
The impact of AI in materials science extends beyond just discovering new materials. It also enables the optimization of existing materials, improving their performance and reducing costs. With continued advancements in AI technology and the collaborative efforts of organizations like Orbital Materials, the future of materials discovery looks promising.
Conclusion
Orbital Materials, led by Jonathan Godwin, is leveraging AI to support the discovery and manufacturing of new physical materials. By combining AI expertise with materials science, Orbital Materials is revolutionizing the way materials are developed, making the process faster and more efficient. With its AI-powered platform, Linus, Orbital Materials is accelerating materials discovery and bringing new materials from the computer into the real world. With ongoing funding and expansion, Orbital Materials is poised to make a significant impact on industries that rely on advanced materials. The future of materials discovery is exciting, thanks to the innovative work being done by Orbital Materials and other organizations in the field.
