Is AI Changing Scientists? The Future of Pharma with Dr. Rob Dodge

Rob Dodge says AI has made him an expert Python programmer, even though he never took a class in it. But does having new capabilities change what it means to be a scientist?

Dr. Chad Briscoe sits down with Dr. Robert “Rob” Dodge at the AAPS National Biotechnology Conference in San Diego to discuss how artificial intelligence and machine learning are changing pharmaceutical research.

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About the conversation

Rob remembers when spreadsheets changed how scientists calculated and plotted their results. Today, AI helps him write code and investigate scientific data with less reliance on specialist programming support.

He and Chad discuss where these tools are useful, where they fall short, and what scientists still need to bring to the work. Their conversation covers assay development, access to clinical data, scientific writing, and the challenges of using AI in regulated bioanalysis.

Rob also shares his predictions for how machine learning could change established modeling approaches, including quantitative systems pharmacology and design of experiments.

Throughout the discussion, he returns to a familiar principle: scientists still need to develop hypotheses, test them, and question their results.