R&D

Epoch AI has published a new evaluation examining whether artificial intelligence systems can automate AI research and development itself. The publication, shared on tech discussion forums, tests how well current models perform at the kind of novel, innovative work that drives progress in AI research. It is drawing attention as labs increasingly pitch AI agents as tools for accelerating their own research pipelines.

SandboxAQ has drawn attention with news that it is supporting United States semiconductor research and development backed by $500 million in quantum-related funding. The announcement highlights growing investment in quantum technologies and the push to strengthen domestic chip capabilities, placing the company among the players shaping the next generation of US semiconductor innovation.

Spotify has announced the launch of Spotify Technology, a new business arm that will commercialise the internal software tools the company developed for its own operations, selling them to other companies. Spotify says the brand is 'becoming the R&D operating system', positioning the move as a way to turn its in-house engineering capabilities into a revenue stream beyond music streaming.

Epoch AI has published a new assessment asking whether today's AI systems can genuinely automate AI research and development. The publication examines how well frontier models perform at the kinds of creative and technical work that drive AI progress, a question central to debates about recursive self-improvement and how fast capabilities might accelerate. Readers are debating how close current systems really are to running research autonomously.

Intel is set to work alongside TSMC at Applied Materials' $5 billion chip research facility, according to reports for 2026. The collaboration would place two of the world's largest chipmakers in the same advanced R&D lab, reflecting the growing industry push to develop next-generation semiconductor manufacturing technology and strengthen domestic chip supply chains.

A new commentary argues that research and development organisations need a science-informed AI strategy to close the gap between what AI is expected to deliver and what it can realistically achieve in the lab. It stresses grounding AI adoption in scientific workflows and realistic goals rather than hype, as labs weigh how best to integrate the technology into research.

Japanese trading house Itochu has taken a stake in a domestic biotech company, a move aimed at supporting the research and development work of pharmaceutical companies. The news, reported by Nikkei, highlights Itochu's push to expand its presence in the health and life sciences sector beyond traditional trading operations.

Specialty chemicals company Lubrizol is strengthening its innovation center in Southeast Asia, according to an industry news report. The move signals the company's intent to deepen its research and development presence in the region, though further details about investment scale, staffing or timing were not provided.

The European Union plans to increase defence investment to 163 billion euros in 2026, of which 20 billion euros will be earmarked for research and development. The commitment signals a continued push to strengthen European military capabilities and the continent's defence industry, with joint funding priorities shifting toward innovation and technological development alongside conventional rearmament.