TTokyo (SCCIJ) – At the SCCIJ April Luncheon 2026, more than 80 members and guests gathered at Grand Hyatt Tokyo for an inspiring keynote by Dr. Hiroaki Kitano, President & CEO of Sony Computer Science Laboratories. Drawing on decades of experience at the intersection of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and innovation, Dr. Kitano shared a compelling vision of a fundamental shift in science: the emergence of AI not just as a tool, but as a scientist.
Dr. Kitano, you describe AI as becoming a “scientist.” What do you mean by that?
Dr. Kitano: Traditionally, AI has been a tool used by scientists to analyze data or support research. What we are now seeing is a shift toward highly autonomous systems that can generate hypotheses, design experiments, and interpret results. In other words, AI is starting to take on the full cycle of scientific discovery. The goal is to create systems that can continuously produce meaningful discoveries, potentially at a level comparable to leading human scientists.
Why is this transformation necessary today?
Dr. Kitano: One of the key limitations in science is human capacity. We generate enormous amounts of data and publish millions of papers each year, but no individual, or even a group, can process all that information. As a result, we tend to focus on a narrow set of hypotheses. AI, by contrast, can explore a much broader search space, analyze vast datasets, and identify patterns or opportunities that humans might overlook.
How will AI change the way scientific research is conducted?
Dr. Kitano: The biggest change will come from scale and speed. AI can generate thousands of hypotheses and test them systematically. When combined with robotics and automated laboratories, experiments can be conducted continuously, without human intervention. This means that what currently takes years could be achieved in weeks. It fundamentally changes the economics of innovation.
During the SCCIJ Luncheon, you mentioned that scientific discovery is an “open-ended” problem. Why is that important?
Dr. Kitano: Unlike games such as chess or Go, scientific discovery does not have a fixed set of rules or a clear endpoint. It is complex, uncertain, and often unpredictable. Humans tend to select research paths that seem promising or safe, but many important discoveries come from unexpected directions. AI systems can explore these less obvious areas more systematically, which increases the chances of breakthrough discoveries.
What role will humans play in this new model of AI-driven discovery?
Dr. Kitano: Humans will remain essential, but their role will evolve. Instead of focusing on individual experiments, researchers will design systems, define objectives, and interpret broader outcomes. The collaboration between humans and AI will become more strategic, with AI handling large-scale exploration and humans providing direction and judgment.
What are the implications for businesses and industries?
Dr. Kitano: The implications are significant. Industries such as pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and materials science will see major changes. Companies will need to rethink their R&D strategies, how they allocate resources, and how they build talent. The ability to integrate AI into the discovery process will become a key competitive advantage.
About the Speaker
Dr. Hiroaki Kitano is President & CEO of Sony Computer Science Laboratories and a leading figure in artificial intelligence and systems biology. He is also a key driver of AI-driven scientific discovery initiatives at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST). Known for founding the RoboCup initiative, Dr. Kitano continues to shape global conversations on the future of AI, robotics, and innovation.
