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AI has designed thousands of potential antibiotics. Will any work?

Machine learning can speed up the discovery of potential antibiotics, but challenges remain.
By
  1. Rachel Fieldhouse

    1. Rachel Fieldhouse is a reporter for Nature in Sydney, Australia.

Researchers are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) to help design the next generation of antibiotics to combat rising antimicrobial resistance. In minutes, AI can design thousands of chemical compounds with potential antibacterial properties, although there are hurdles to overcome before the first of these medicines can be tested in people.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-03201-6

Updates & Corrections

  • Update 07 October 2025: This story has been updated to include a reference.

References

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