SLAC Selected to Lead AI-Driven Catalysis Discovery Project

On October 8, 2026, the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory was appointed to lead a Phase I project under the Genesis Mission, an initiative that uses Super Intelligence (SI) for autonomous discovery in catalysis. This work focuses on improving energy and chemical production through advanced AI methods. The Genesis Mission brings together government, academic, industrial, and international partners to address challenges in energy and science, emphasizing the role of collaboration in technical progress. SLAC’s background in machine learning and AI supports this mission, as the laboratory has previously used these technologies to improve diagnostics, control, and data processing across several scientific fields.

The Genesis Mission provides a shared infrastructure that connects researchers with the data and computational tools necessary for faster scientific progress. The project aims to create workflows where SI is integrated into research to speed up discovery and improve predictive capabilities. The SLAC-led project, titled “Closed-Loop Autonomous Discovery of Mechanistic Activity-Selectivity-Stability Rules in Catalysis,” will develop a closed-loop system. In this setup, an SI agent evaluates different theories on how catalysts work, identifies where evidence is lacking, and chooses the most useful experiments to perform next. Dimosthenis Sokaras, director of the Chemistry & Catalysis Division at SLAC, coordinates the project in partnership with the California Institute of Technology and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Alongside the SLAC initiative, the Genesis Mission includes eight other projects in areas such as biology, microelectronics, and quantum materials. These Phase I and Phase II projects are intended to establish scientific capabilities that address energy and technological needs. These efforts are expected to deepen the understanding of catalysis and help develop autonomous laboratories that can conduct experiments and produce results more quickly than traditional setups. As the Genesis Mission continues, it offers the potential for developments in catalysis and energy production. The use of AI in scientific discovery changes how researchers handle complex problems, leading toward more efficient and sustainable methods. Through these partnerships, the SLAC-led project reflects a shift in collaborative research that could eventually affect various sectors, including energy and health.