Move over, AlphaFold: open-source model predicts shape of 1 billion proteins

Summary: The world of biology just got a massive upgrade, thanks to a new artificial intelligence tool from the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, a research center created by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan.

Their new open-source AI, called ESMFold2, has successfully predicted the 3D shapes of over 1.1 billion proteins. Proteins are the tiny building blocks of all living things, and knowing their exact shape is the key to understanding how they work. This new tool is already competing with and even beating older models like Google's AlphaFold3.

Why does this matter? Researchers are already using this massive protein map to design new, highly accurate antibodies that can target cancer cells and fight immune system diseases. They have even used it to discover new CRISPR-like gene-editing tools hiding in simple soil fungus! Best of all, the entire database is completely free and open to the public, giving scientists around the world a powerful new tool to unlock the secrets of human health.

For more details, see nature.com at nature.com/articles/d41586-026-01686-3 (opens in new tab)