The AI for Scientific Discovery Network

The Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Intelligence for Automated Investigation for Scientific Discovery Network⁺ (AI3SD) was established in response to the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) late-2017 call for a Network⁺ to promote cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence to accelerate groundbreaking scientific discoveries. This article provides the philosophical, scientific, and technical underpinnings of the Network⁺, the history of the different domains represented in the Network⁺, and the specific focus of the Network⁺. The activities, collaborations, and research covered in the first year of the Network⁺ have highlighted the significant challenges in the chemistry and augmented and artificial intelligence space. These challenges are shaping the future directions of the Network⁺. The article concludes with a summary of the lessons learned in running this Network⁺ and introduces our plans for the future in a landscape redrawn by COVID-19, including rebranding into the AI 4 Scientific Discovery Network (www.ai4science.network).