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Jacob Trefethen

What Jacob Trefethen thinks about AI and science

@jacob-trefethen · 14 positions · On ppll ↗

Head of global health R&D at Open Philanthropy, where he directs funding for vaccines, drugs and diagnostics aimed at diseases that get little commercial attention. He writes at blog.jacobtrefethen.com and co-hosts the Hard Drugs podcast with Saloni Dattani.

Jacob Trefethen did not write this page.

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Only Jacob Trefethen on AI and science. See everyone on AI and science

4 dated positions, 2025, in their own words. Our reading of what Jacob Trefethen has said — not written or endorsed by them.

4 positions so far — this page is not yet offered to search engines.

  1. Our readingAI will not on its own compress decades of medical progress into a few years, because the binding constraint is human data, clinical trials and regulation rather than intelligence.

    Their wordsThose are why I do not believe that AI could end disease within 10 years on its own, nor that 50-100 years of medical progress could occur 5-10 years after powerful AI due to AI progress alone

    ↗AI will not suddenly lead to an Alzheimer's cureblog.jacobtrefethen.com 1st of 5 in this piece

  3. Our readingNot every bottleneck on medical progress is one AI can remove, and which ones will remain can be guessed at now.

    Their wordsBut I don’t think all bottlenecks on medical progress are equally AI-able in the next decade, and I don’t think all will become irrelevant.

    ↗What does AI progress mean for medical progress?blog.jacobtrefethen.com 2nd of 2 in this piece

  5. Our readingGoing all in on AI is not the highest-return strategy for human flourishing, even if AI does produce rapid scientific advances.

    Their wordsGoing all in on AI is not the highest return-on-investment strategy if you care about human flourishing, even if AI might lead to rapid scientific advances.

    ↗AI will not suddenly lead to an Alzheimer's cureblog.jacobtrefethen.com 2nd of 5 in this piece

  7. Our readingAI tools are already making scientists more productive and creative, and more discoveries should follow.

    Their wordsAI tools are helping make scientists more productive and creative already, and more discoveries should follow.

    ↗AI could help lead to an Alzheimer's cureblog.jacobtrefethen.com 3rd of 3 in this piece