OpenAI Lobbies US Government to Expand AI Use in Life Sciences

Bringing a new drug from research to U.S. approval typically takes 12–15 years, and AI is expected to accelerate drug design and experimentation. The OpenAI Foundation said on March 24, 2026, that it would invest at least $1 billion over the following year in life sciences, disease treatment and related fields, underscoring how AI leaders are competing with companies including Anthropic for a share of the biotechnology market.

OpenAI's policy, research and science teams released a report on April 15, 2026, urging the U.S. government to broaden access to medical and scientific data, designate advanced AI as a national research resource, and invest in computing capacity, laboratories, energy and infrastructure. However, no drug discovered or designed entirely by AI has yet passed a Phase III clinical trial.