The AI for Scientific Discovery Network.

The Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Intelligence for Automated Investigation for Scientific Discovery Network (AI3SD) was established in response to the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) late-2017 call for a Network to promote cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence to accelerate groundbreaking scientific discoveries. This article provides the philosophical, scientific, and technical underpinnings of the Network, the history of the different domains represented in the Network, and the specific focus of the Network. The activities, collaborations, and research covered in the first year of the Network have highlighted the significant challenges in the chemistry and augmented and artificial intelligence space. These challenges are shaping the future directions of the Network. The article concludes with a summary of the lessons learned in running this Network and introduces our plans for the future in a landscape redrawn by COVID-19, including rebranding into the AI 4 Scientific Discovery Network (www.ai4science.network).