Ex-OpenAI post-training lead launches Periodic Labs to build AI for discovering materials
hsu_byron · x · 2026-09-30
Liam Fedus, who helped build ChatGPT and ran post-training at OpenAI, and Ekin Dogus Cubuk, ex-Google DeepMind materials research lead, founded San Francisco startup Periodic Labs to build AI systems and autonomous labs for discovering new materials, starting with a higher-temperature superconductor. A long interview covers synthetic superintelligence, ChatGPT launch lessons, LLM math-vs-science gaps and the competitive landscape.
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