The AI for Scientific Discovery Network.

The Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Intelligence for Automated Investigation for Scientific Discovery Network+ (AI3SD) was established in response to the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) late-2017 call for a Network+ to promote cutting-edge research in artificial intelligence to accelerate groundbreaking scientific discoveries. This article provides the philosophical, scientific, and technical underpinnings of the Network+, the history of the different domains represented in the Network+, and the specific focus of the Network+. The activities, collaborations, and research covered in the first year of the Network+ have highlighted the significant challenges in the chemistry and augmented and artificial intelligence space. These challenges are shaping the future directions of the Network+. The article concludes with a summary of the lessons learned in running this Network+ and introduces our plans for the future in a landscape redrawn by COVID-19, including rebranding into the AI 4 Scientific Discovery Network (www.ai4science.network).