IBM Research launched a set of models and tooling that allowed computational scientists to use generative AI in early 2022.
Seeing the potential ahead of a growing AI future, IBM partnered with Jam3 to develop a proof of concept interface that would enable the effortless design of molecules, making AI accessible to lab scientists as well.
We recognized that every scientist approaches problem-solving uniquely, so we aimed to provide flexibility in their toolkit.
Scientists appreciate the significance of fun, exploration, and play in their work, so we imagined tools that sparked their creativity.
We uncovered that even the brightest minds faced challenges when collaborating, so we strived to create a way for them to showcase their value to each other.
We looked at artist-centric tools and software, with node-based systems like Touchdesigner and Houdini as our core inspiration.
Scientists could not only construct a hypothesis towards novel molecular discovery using AI, but parse, test, and play with the results in numerous ways depending on how they connected the nodes. This allowed for an exciting open-world approach to experimental workspaces.
Moreover, we were influenced by the collaborative features of Figma and Miro to enhance the user experience, marrying design-thinking with scientific problem-solving.
To make the design come to life required the Jam3 technical team to work closely with IBM Research engineers, eventually evolving the platform into a working proof of concept.