By IBM Research
The winner of the inaugural IBM Sustainability Prize, IBM Research Safer Materials Advisor (SMA) is a cutting-edge AI application that tackles the growing dangers posed by materials of concern. By leveraging advanced foundation models for scientific domains and refined agentic workflows, IBM has significantly accelerated corporations' ability to detect and mitigate these materials promptly. IBM Safer Materials Advisor is an easy-to-use AI application designed to identify materials of concern within products, manufacturing processes, and supply chains. Initially targeting PFAS, the advisor effectively detects PFAS compounds in various parts, components or formulations, offering a thorough evaluation of the most hazardous chemicals. In the next release, the advisor will assist in sourcing substitutes — considering factors like performance, sustainability, and operational dependencies — and offer unique approaches based on transfer-learning of successful solutions from diverse industrial applications. In scenarios where no direct substitute is apparent, the AI-powered design capabilities of the advisor facilitate the discovery of entirely novel materials, ensuring continuous advancement in the sourcing of safer materials. The IBM Safer Materials Advisor offers: - Operational Efficiency: Significantly speed-up the manual process - Regulatory Gap Analysis: Stay up to date with evolving regulations - Risk Mitigation: Identify the most concerning compounds - Performance Optimization: Optimize for safety and performance - Future-Proofing: Manage future challenges in material sourcing and life cycle management
