Why big pharma is teaming up with AI giants to speed up drug discovery and make work easier for health care workers

Core Insights - Nvidia's partnerships with Eli Lilly and Johnson & Johnson highlight a growing trend in the pharmaceutical industry to leverage AI for accelerating drug discovery and enhancing healthcare operations [1][4]. Group 1: AI in Drug Discovery - Eli Lilly aims to expedite drug discovery processes by creating a new Nvidia-chip powered "supercomputer" and "AI factory" set to launch by early 2026, utilizing AI models trained on extensive experimental data [3]. - The average cost and time for new drug discovery exceed $2 billion and over a decade, respectively, indicating a significant opportunity for AI to streamline these processes [2]. Group 2: Applications in Healthcare - Johnson & Johnson's partnership with Nvidia focuses on using AI to create simulated environments for surgical teams, enhancing training and improving clinical outcomes [4]. - The potential for generative AI in the pharmaceutical and medical products sectors could unlock tens of billions in value by improving drug discovery, clinical trials, and treatment administration [5]. Group 3: Customization and Specificity - There is a growing demand for AI solutions tailored to specific business needs within the pharmaceutical industry, moving away from generic platforms [7][8]. - Eli Lilly's Chief AI Officer emphasizes the importance of proprietary data and customized AI models to drive significant advancements in drug discovery [8]. Group 4: Future of AI in Surgery - The integration of physical AI in surgical settings could lead to a hybrid model where human surgeons collaborate with robots and digital agents, potentially transforming surgical techniques [10][11]. - The World Health Organization projects a global shortfall of 11 million health workers by 2030, underscoring the need for AI to assist in healthcare delivery [10].