Nobel Laureate David Baker on Using AI for Science to Solve Humanity's Biggest Problems

In this episode of the Existential Hope Podcast, Nobel Laureate David Baker reveals how scientists are now inventing entirely new proteins—life's fundamental building blocks—to tackle some of the world's most pressing challenges. David shares his journey and his vision for a future where custom-built "molecular machines," an idea once explored by thinkers like Eric Drexler, could repair our bodies, clean up pollution, and create sustainable materials. He explains how breakthroughs in AI are supercharging this field, but also why human ingenuity and collaborative science are still essential to unlocking these revolutionary possibilities. In this conversation, we explore: - The incredible power of designing brand-new proteins for groundbreaking medicines, environmental cleanup, and creating novel materials. - The exciting prospect of "molecular machines": tiny engines built from proteins to perform complex tasks, inspired by early visions of nanotechnology. - How AI is accelerating scientific discovery, and what it takes to translate these digital designs into real-world solutions. - David’s "communal brain" philosophy for fostering innovation and his advice for anyone wanting to solve big, meaningful problems. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 05:28 The Journey into Protein Design 08:44 Understanding Protein Design and Its Applications 12:23 The Future of Molecular Machines 14:35 Principles of Good Science and Lab Culture 17:37 Navigating the Academic Landscape for Impactful Research 19:42 Comparing Approaches to Innovation in Science 21:09 The Breakthrough of AlphaFold in Protein Structure Prediction 24:06 Challenges in Protein Design and the Role of AI 26:42 The Importance of Data in AI for Science 28:22 Integrating AI and Experimental Methods in Protein Design 31:10 Building a Biotech Ecosystem in Seattle 34:12 Future Applications of Protein Design for Global Challenges 36:52 Envisioning the World in 2045 with Protein Design 38:25 The Human Side of Science Full transcript & further resources: https://www.existentialhope.com/podcasts