Anthropic has just rolled out its AI for Science programme, a fresh push to boost research in biology and the life sciences. Selected researchers will receive up to $20,000 in API credits over six months, giving them full access to Anthropic’s suite of AI tools, including the Claude family of models. The selection process will consider both the strength of previous scientific contributions and the potential of using AI to streamline research challenges.
This new initiative is tailored for projects that aim to untangle complex biological systems, improve genetic data analysis, speed up drug discovery, or enhance agricultural productivity. As detailed in Anthropic’s recent blog post, advanced AI can help researchers sift through complicated data, generate innovative hypotheses, design experiments, and share findings in clearer ways.
Anthropic isn’t the only player in this arena. Google, for example, recently introduced an “AI co-scientist” designed to assist in formulating research plans and testing ideas. Although there is some scepticism among researchers about AI’s present-day reliability in pinpointing genuine breakthroughs, the new effort aims to learn from past shortcomings in AI-assisted science. After all, previous attempts have often fallen short of delivering the anticipated advances.
The company will review applications on the first Monday of every month, weighing each proposal on its scientific merit, potential impact, technical feasibility, and biosecurity concerns. This careful assessment ensures that the research won’t be misapplied in unintended, harmful ways. If you’ve ever struggled to secure support for innovative ideas, this could be the opportunity to have your work powered by state-of-the-art AI tools. Interested researchers can submit their proposals via Anthropic’s website, where a panel of experts will review each entry.
