AI research robots key to ‘democratizing and revolutionizing science’, world-class AFRL researcher says

Getting artificially intelligent, or AI, research robots into educators’ hands at a low cost is crucial to support the Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL’s, ongoing efforts to multiply human research efforts by a thousandfold and to send the message that science is for everyone, said Dr. Benji Maruyama, a principal materials research engineer based in AFRL’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate. “There are simply not enough of us [researchers],” Maruyama said. While AI robots grow increasingly sophisticated by the day, Maruyama said he does not fear them. AI is the key to “democratizing” science, making it more accessible to everyone as humans learn to work in tandem with evolving technology, ultimately freeing themselves from unnecessary toil and leading to greater discovery, he added. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration / Gregory Gerken)