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How we’re using AI to discover new antibiotics | Jim Collins

Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more. Before the coronavirus pandemic, bioengineer Jim Collins and his team combined the power of AI with synthetic biology in an effort to combat a different looming crisis: antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Collins explains how they pivoted their efforts to begin developing…

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Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, bioengineer Jim Collins and his team combined the power of AI with synthetic biology in an effort to combat a different looming crisis: antibiotic-resistant superbugs. Collins explains how they pivoted their efforts to begin developing a series of tools and antiviral compounds to help fight COVID-19 — and shares their plan to discover seven new classes of antibiotics over the next seven years. (This ambitious plan is part of The Audacious Project, TED’s initiative to inspire and fund global change.)

The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You’re welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know. For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a Media Request here:

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34 Comments

34 Comments

  1. Igor Gabrielan

    May 26, 2020 at 2:56 pm

    pharmaceutical.ai med.ai

  2. John Lennon

    May 26, 2020 at 3:00 pm

    2020 vision … awesome

  3. agb ausgebrannt

    May 26, 2020 at 3:04 pm

    there are natural antibiotics. also our immune system is powerful. the A.I. , the quantum computer technic, biophysical aspects, the possibillities are endless. Yes, but to stay healthy, we don’t need it. we need to use creative power instead of processes which are principle working with destroying. let there be light. the future will be designt by us, means the balance betweern us, the human people, mother earth, with all of gaia’s creatures and the balance between the two of us with the A.I.

  4. 50 Shades of 40

    May 26, 2020 at 3:17 pm

    Great point! I am a pharmacist and always think : how come we have gone so far in so many fields and technology , can even see other galaxies , but we don’t have advanced enough medicine to help people. And I am talking about real help, not just masking the symptoms

    • NeoFighterX

      May 26, 2020 at 4:08 pm

      I think its because we have learned about the body, infectious diseases and pathologies from a cell-by-cell perspective, whereas we need to consider the complex interactions and interplay taking place. This requires extensive modelling and computational powers but the field of Systems Biology aims to implement this school of thought

    • Mnd0vrMnky

      May 26, 2020 at 5:56 pm

      Because not long after they cured lupus with uv light in 1908, winning a Nobel prize.
      Big pharma/oil created the pharmaceuticals industry because there was more money it.

      Solar minimum = less uv light = vit d deficiency.
      Oldest working solar observatory is run by the Jesuits.
      Chloroquine is made with quinine, which is also called the ‘Jesuits bark’
      Also an ingredient of tonic water.

      Paul stamets used uv light to create fungal mass rich in vit d.
      It was used to save the bees from mould disease.
      He’s now creating a quinine rich strain in an attempt to cure mans dis ease.

      Chloroquine is a potent inhibitor of SARS corona virus infection and spread.
      Chloroquine is also a zinc ionophore.
      Quercetin, a zinc ionophore, is the poor mans chloroquine.

      Chloroquine does not prevent corona from entering the cell.
      It’s talent with corona is to open a pathway for the zinc to enter the cell and prevent rna replication

  5. TheJojovani

    May 26, 2020 at 3:18 pm

    Dr Tyler just put forth hydrogen and oxygen as a critical component for covid 19

  6. Scott Cousland

    May 26, 2020 at 3:23 pm

    New ways to kill are never necessary. Minds willing to look at how to support life, always necessary. I believe in God, and this God is so smart that all of creation is efficient and scalable. If you would like to learn more about God, and the SIMPLE Laws that govern health, the best place to begin is the YouTube playlist at the top of this page:

  7. Rohit Nitwal

    May 26, 2020 at 3:26 pm

    How long will your AI take to discover coronavirus vaccine..
    Months or years

  8. Jade Choi - Make Money Online Challenge

    May 26, 2020 at 3:32 pm

    Thank you for your work. We all really appreciate it. 🙏

  9. Mr Mike

    May 26, 2020 at 3:41 pm

    Not my area of expertise, so no criticism from me. May God guide these researchers to the knowledge necessary to produce a universal vaccine.

  10. plant Family

    May 26, 2020 at 3:44 pm

    Old transhumanism agenda still moving forward I see the devil is a liar

  11. zu_alt_fuer

    May 26, 2020 at 3:51 pm

    if you can’t sell something, put an AI sticker on it…

  12. Bob Vincent

    May 26, 2020 at 4:03 pm

    Thanks,is it possible to reinvent existing antibiotics using al
    To prove they match?

    • hamsolo474

      May 27, 2020 at 12:51 am

      Probably not, because you need to feed the results of what works with what doesn’t so it can learn. I doubt it can make its own dataset without appearing biased.

  13. Deantae Williams

    May 26, 2020 at 4:22 pm

    No more anti, how about ally for the ppl…

  14. EvenStar LoveAnanda

    May 26, 2020 at 4:24 pm

    Don’t waste your time, we already have the Perfect Antibiotic known to man.
    It has no side-effects.
    It does not kill good bacteria.
    The bad germs can not build any resistance to it.
    And it works 100% of the time on any infection.
    It is called MMS.
    Miracle Mineral Supplement.
    I have been using it myself for 5 years.
    And it saved my life in India from a bad food poisoning.
    I healed myself in 1 days.
    And healed about 50 other ppl in India.

  15. Florian Berthold

    May 26, 2020 at 4:50 pm

    Dann viel Spass

  16. Florian Berthold

    May 26, 2020 at 4:51 pm

    Ich werde mich nicht zwingen lassen den Menschen zu helfen.ich bin nicht der Sündenbock für euch . Dann viel Spass beim Jüngsten Gericht

  17. Josefina Morales

    May 26, 2020 at 4:53 pm

    Great News!!!!
    Hopefully you’ll get your 🥅
    Blessings from Puerto Rico!!🌹

  18. Byron Foster

    May 26, 2020 at 5:03 pm

    You’re part of the solution, thank you 🙏🏼

  19. Sudhakar Singh

    May 26, 2020 at 5:07 pm

    I appreciate the work done by these scientist 🙏🙏🙏 and meanwhile I wonder what IBM and GOOGLE is doing with it’s quantum computer….

    • Mindy L

      May 26, 2020 at 10:00 pm

      “World domination and alternative universe of course!” – Pinky & the Brain

  20. Ask Ultra

    May 26, 2020 at 6:40 pm

    Brilliant video, we’re excited about how artificial intelligence is being used in new and brilliant ways. Instead of it being a “trend” it should be used to solve real problems for real people!

    • Julian Hall

      May 26, 2020 at 6:41 pm

      Ask Ultra couldn’t agree more! Great video and keep up the good work on the new channel!

  21. Psycho Social Creation

    May 26, 2020 at 7:06 pm

    Prevention is key! 🙌🏽😊

  22. Natural Technologist

    May 26, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    Interesting. So, when will A.I. take over so that humans no longer need their physical body? That way humanity won’t have any more physical diseases, physical crimes and…… Wait.
    What about digital diseases or digital crimes? So, when will A.I. make human ignorance totally obsolete??

  23. Rolf Schmitz

    May 26, 2020 at 10:34 pm

    Jim – many thanks for this inspiring talk making me long to learn more about your work

  24. Firman Muhamad Ramdan

    May 26, 2020 at 10:40 pm

    Great poin

  25. Rashid Al-mahmud

    May 27, 2020 at 12:25 am

    I wonder what ML algorithms they’re using.

  26. h i a l l e

    May 27, 2020 at 3:45 am

    This people won’t stop until, no matter how much hate bill gates gets on Instagram or wherever he and his minions are. God is the only one I put my faith on, not this freaks.

  27. SteVeL

    May 27, 2020 at 2:16 pm

    Very informative, and bonus points for Mr. Collins’ interesting speaking cadence.

  28. Jakob Dering

    May 27, 2020 at 3:04 pm

    Promises, promises, promises…

  29. Christina Moncur

    May 28, 2020 at 12:48 am

    Great work! Innovative thinking is needed to make progress and combat new developing viruses

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Nonprofits & Activism

From Prison to Purpose Through Wildland Firefighting | Royal Ramey | TED

When wildfires rage in California, incarcerated people are often on the front lines fighting the flames. TED Fellow Royal Ramey was one of them. He shares the story of how doing public service in prison inspired him to cofound the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program, a nonprofit helping formerly incarcerated people become wildland firefighters —…

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When wildfires rage in California, incarcerated people are often on the front lines fighting the flames. TED Fellow Royal Ramey was one of them. He shares the story of how doing public service in prison inspired him to cofound the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program, a nonprofit helping formerly incarcerated people become wildland firefighters — and find purpose along the way. (Recorded at TED Fellows Films 2024 on April 16, 2024)

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#TED #TEDTalks #wildfire

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The Recipe for a Healthy Climate Starts at the Dinner Table | Anthony Myint | TED

Why aren’t restaurants part of the climate solution? This question inspired chef Anthony Myint to go from opening buzzy pop-ups to pushing for a shift to regenerative farming practices in the food system. He explains how it didn’t go the way he expected at first — and how restaurants are now teaming up with farmers…

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Why aren’t restaurants part of the climate solution? This question inspired chef Anthony Myint to go from opening buzzy pop-ups to pushing for a shift to regenerative farming practices in the food system. He explains how it didn’t go the way he expected at first — and how restaurants are now teaming up with farmers and eaters alike to restore the climate while serving up delicious food. (Recorded at TED Countdown 2024 Dilemma Series on June 6, 2024 )

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To End Extreme Poverty, Give Cash — Not Advice | Rory Stewart | TED

Are traditional philanthropy efforts actually taking money from the poor? Former UK Member of Parliament Rory Stewart breaks down why many global development projects waste money on programs that don’t work. He advocates for a radical reversal rooted in evidence: giving unconditional cash transfers directly to those in need, a method that could unlock the…

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Are traditional philanthropy efforts actually taking money from the poor? Former UK Member of Parliament Rory Stewart breaks down why many global development projects waste money on programs that don’t work. He advocates for a radical reversal rooted in evidence: giving unconditional cash transfers directly to those in need, a method that could unlock the secret of addressing extreme poverty worldwide. (Recorded at TED2024 on April 19, 2024)

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The TED Talks channel features talks, performances and original series from the world’s leading thinkers and doers. Subscribe to our channel for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more.

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#TED #TEDTalks #development

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