## AI will become central to the research process AI is already speeding up breakthroughs in fields like climate modeling, molecular dynamics and materials design, says Peter Lee, president of Microsoft Research. But the next leap is coming. In 2026, AI won't just summarize papers, answer questions and write reports — it will actively join the process of discovery in physics, chemistry and biology. "AI will generate hypotheses, use tools and apps that control scientific experiments, and…
## AI will become central to the research process AI is already speeding up breakthroughs in fields like climate modeling, molecular dynamics and materials design, says Peter Lee, president of Microsoft Research. But the next leap is coming. In 2026, AI won't just summarize papers, answer questions and write reports — it will actively join the process of discovery in physics, chemistry and biology. "AI will generate hypotheses, use tools and apps that control scientific experiments, and…