India bets on generative AI to reshape drug discovery: Union Minister

India will rely on generative AI to accelerate drug discovery and bolster clinical research, Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh said on Friday, adding that fears that the technology will replace scientists are unfounded and that AI will only enhance decision-making, not replace experts.

- TDG NETWORK

Singh said technology was already reshaping how pharmaceutical and biotech companies operate. "In drug discovery, generative AI is creating value in clinical trial protocol development, in clinical trial execution, in quality assurance and regulatory submissions," he said at the 7th CII Pharma and Lifesciences Summit 2025 at New Delhi.

He added that the widely expressed fear that AI would make human researchers redundant was unfounded. "There is also a constant dialogue that we will lose jobs. Is AI likely to replace scientists? No, this is not going to be the case, definitely not. It does not replace us. It makes us better." Singh said those using AI would "certainly outperform those who do not.”