Machine learning for better metals

When humans learned to extract metals from their ores and mix them into alloys such as bronze, brass and steel, technology took great leaps forward. Now researchers are turning to artificial intelligence to find the next generation of alloys. Scientists are already finding new alloys with increased strength and other improved features. A research team based in China have now published such discoveries in the journal Acta Materialia. Explaining the origins of their work, researcher Yanjing Su of the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Materials Genome Engineering cites as his inspiration the success of machine learning in mastering the strategy game Go.