The Most Interesting Thing in A.I. Artificial Life - with Nicholas Thompson and Lee Cronin
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Nov 5, 2025 
Lee Cronin, Regius Chair of Chemistry at the University of Glasgow and founder of Chemify, discusses his groundbreaking work in digitizing chemistry. He explains how his team designs and 'prints' molecules to create new drugs and materials. Lee dives into assembly theory, addressing the origins of life through evolutionary processes and inorganic selection. He also explores the potential for AI to evolve autonomy, questioning if machines could ever be considered truly alive. Cronin’s insights bridge the gap between chemistry and the future of artificial intelligence.
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Record Every Experimental Parameter
- Standardize all experimental variables (cup size, order, temperature, volumes, contact times) before digitizing a protocol.
- Record each parameter so others can exactly replicate the procedure from the digital recipe.
From Request To Printed Molecules
- Chemify takes a client's molecular goal, computes virtual candidates, and physically prints promising molecules in the lab.
- The platform learns from each synthesis to expand its library of recipes and capabilities.
Ground AI In Physical Reality
- AI without physical grounding produces unrealistic outputs; you must encode physical laws to constrain its imagination.
- Cronin embeds quantum-mechanics constraints so the system only proposes molecules that can be made in the lab.