@AYi_AInotes: Damn, after watching this DeepMind documentary, I got goosebumps. There were no thrilling speeches or grand launch events—just an ordinary meeting room where a few engineers sat around a table and told Demis: We can now predict all the known 1.7 to 2 billion protein sequences in just one month. Dem…

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Summary

The article reviews DeepMind's decision-making process behind open-sourcing AlphaFold in 2021, praising Demis Hassabis's leadership style for taking risks and freely making basic research available. It also notes that although this initiative did not generate direct profits, it successfully led to the creation of Isomorphic Labs, valued at $2 billion.

Damn, watching this DeepMind documentary gave me goosebumps. There were no hype-filled keynotes, no grand product launches. Just an ordinary conference room, a few engineers sitting around a table, telling Demis Hassabis: "We can now predict the structures of all 200 million known protein sequences within a month." Demis didn't ask, "What are the risks?" "What's the ROI?" "Should we hold a review meeting first?" or "Should we raise a funding round before proceeding?" He only said two words: "Do it." Then the scene shifts to that moment we all remember: AlphaFold was open-sourced to the world—free, permanently. Holy shit! I still remember that day in 2021 vividly. The entire biology community erupted in excitement. A problem that had plagued humanity for 50 years was solved, and there were no barriers to entry—anyone could use it. Interestingly, five years later, people ask, "How much money did AlphaFold make?" The answer? Not a single cent. But it spawned Isomorphic Labs, which is currently in talks for a $2 billion financing round. I think this is the most impressive business model: build a free foundational infrastructure for all of humanity first, establish trust, cultivate an ecosystem, and set standards, and only then monetize it—rather than the other way around. What's the AI community like today? One PowerPoint presentation, raise tens of millions of dollars, blow up parameters to the sky, yet deliver zero practical utility. They scream "disrupt the world" every day, but can't even identify one real problem to solve. Until DeepMind showed us that the way to truly change the world is actually quite simple. Identify a genuinely difficult problem, solve it, and give it away for free to everyone. Many say Demis is the greatest scientist of our time. I believe he is, more importantly, the greatest leader of our time. He knows when to pause and reflect, and even more so, when to say "do it" without hesitation. The world never lacks smart people, nor does it lack wealthy ones. What it lacks are those who dare to go all-in when they spot an opportunity, and who immediately act when they see something that can benefit humanity. That "do it" five years ago transformed the entire field of biology. Today's $2 billion is just the first fruit it has borne. In the future, there will be many more! #DeepMind #AlphaFold #AI
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AlphaFold: Five years of impact

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This article reflects on the five-year impact of AlphaFold since its 2020 breakthrough, highlighting its role as a global scientific tool used by millions of researchers and its recognition with the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.