Meet our new PIs: Andrew Cropper develops AI that works like a scientist

What do you research?

I build artificial intelligence (AI) that reasons like a scientist. Just as scientists form hypotheses, test them, and refine their theories, my AI does the same. Given examples of successful and unsuccessful drugs, rather than merely memorizing patterns, it proposes a hypothesis to explain why certain drugs work, tests the hypothesis, learns from the outcome, and refines its understanding, just like a scientist. 

What makes this AI distinctive is its use of logical reasoning to generate explanations that humans can read, question, and build upon. It makes predictions and explains the why behind them. 

I want to use this AI to accelerate discovery in any field where the scientific method applies, be it genomics, ecology, or pharmacology. My ultimate goal is to help scientists make Nobel Prize-worthy discoveries.

What are you most looking forward to?

The research itself. Building AI that genuinely follows the scientific method is a formidable challenge. I am excited about growing a team to work on this challenge and establishing Helsinki and the ELLIS Institute Finland as the world leader in this area. I want to create a place where the brightest minds come to tackle problems that will reshape how we do science.

Why University of Helsinki?

Helsinki offers an ideal environment for my research. My work combines logical reasoning (where computers solve problems step-by-step) with machine learning (where computers detect patterns in data). Helsinki has world-class researchers in both areas. I am excited to bring these communities together to tackle problems neither could solve alone. I have seen this potential firsthand: I spent three months here as a visiting researcher in 2023 and the visit was remarkably productive. Beyond research, my wife is half-Finnish and we love living here. I cannot imagine a better place for my research and my family.