Publications
Publications
- November 2024
- HBS Case Collection
AlphaGo (C): Birth of a New Intelligence
By: Shikhar Ghosh and Shweta Bagai
Abstract
This case, the final of a three-part series, explores DeepMind's pivotal transition from mastering games to solving real-world scientific challenges. In December 2020, DeepMind's AI system AlphaFold 2 achieved a breakthrough by solving protein folding—a 50-year-old grand challenge in biology with profound implications for drug development and disease treatment. The AI system could accurately predict a protein's 3D structure from its amino acid sequence, a task that typically took researchers years to complete through experimental methods. AlphaFold demonstrated how techniques developed for game-playing AI could be adapted to advance scientific discovery.
As DeepMind released AlphaFold's code and a database of predicted protein structures as a ‘gift to humanity,’ CEO Demis Hassabis faced critical strategic decisions about the company's future direction. Should DeepMind continue its open-access approach to foster global scientific collaboration, or adopt a more controlled distribution model to generate revenue for future research? Which scientific domains—from nuclear fusion to climate science—should the company prioritize next?
As DeepMind released AlphaFold's code and a database of predicted protein structures as a ‘gift to humanity,’ CEO Demis Hassabis faced critical strategic decisions about the company's future direction. Should DeepMind continue its open-access approach to foster global scientific collaboration, or adopt a more controlled distribution model to generate revenue for future research? Which scientific domains—from nuclear fusion to climate science—should the company prioritize next?
Keywords
Autonomy; Deep Learning; Drug Discovery; Healthcare Innovation; Neural Networks; Scientific Research; Technology Startup; AI and Machine Learning; Technological Innovation; Research and Development; Business Model; Business Strategy; Open Source Distribution; Technology Industry; United States
Citation
Ghosh, Shikhar, and Shweta Bagai. "AlphaGo (C): Birth of a New Intelligence." Harvard Business School Supplement 825-075, November 2024.