Anthropic has quietly established a physical biology laboratory in the San Francisco Bay Area as the artificial intelligence company expands its work in life sciences.
The company has been developing AI tools for scientific research, but its latest move takes its biology program beyond computer-based simulations. Two people familiar with the matter told Reuters that Anthropic has set up a wet lab for physical experiments.
Eric Kauderer-Abrams, Anthropic’s head of life sciences, confirmed the laboratory in a Reuters interview.
“We believe that to do biology, the final test is still and will be for a while in real lab work.”
He added that Anthropic is conducting some work in its own facilities while also working with external partners.
Anthropic said its laboratory is not specifically focused on drug discovery, according to a clarification from a company spokesperson. The company declined to provide further details.
Anthropic Targets AI-Powered Biology
Anthropic wants its Claude AI models to help automate laboratory work, including directing robotic systems to conduct experiments with limited human intervention.
Kauderer-Abrams said the company is still in the early stages of using AI to automate laboratory operations.
“We’re in the very early innings of using AI to automate the execution of lab work.”
He said the technology could accelerate several scientific processes, while Anthropic’s spokesperson stressed that human oversight remains important for safety.
The company has also launched Claude Science and introduced its Model Hardware Standard to help AI systems interact with laboratory equipment.
Anthropic says life sciences is one of its major investment areas. The company has hired for roles involving protein and nucleic acid research and aims to accelerate progress in the field.
Focus on Difficult Diseases
Anthropic has said AI could help researchers study conditions considered difficult or “undruggable.” Its work could include areas such as complex antibodies designed to target multiple biological pathways.
However, Anthropic is not currently running clinical trials. Kauderer-Abrams said the company wants to avoid directly competing with pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies that develop and commercialize medicines.
“We’re not competing with pharma and biotech companies that make their business in bringing drugs to market.”
The company is also working with major pharmaceutical companies, including Genentech, Bristol Myers Squibb and Novo Nordisk, as it expands its AI services for life sciences.
