Scientists have used artificial intelligence (AI) to create new paint formulations that can keep buildings 5°C to 20°C cooler than conventional paint under direct midday sun. These innovations aim to reduce the urban heat island effect in cities and lower air-conditioning energy consumption.
The AI-designed coatings are engineered to reflect sunlight efficiently and emit heat, and could also be applied to vehicles, electrical equipment, and other heat-sensitive surfaces as global temperatures rise.
The collaboration among researchers from the University of Texas at Austin, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the National University of Singapore, and Umeå University in Sweden was published in the journal Nature. Their study showed that applying the AI-engineered paint to the roof of a four-story building in hot climates like Rio de Janeiro or Bangkok could save about 15,800 kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. Scaling this to 1,000 buildings could power over 10,000 air conditioning units for a year.
Professor Yuebing Zheng at the University of Texas, co-leader of the study, emphasized that AI accelerates materials design by automating processes and expanding possibilities beyond traditional trial-and-error methods. “What once took a month can now be done in days,” he said.
Dr. Alex Ganose of Imperial College London noted rapid advances in AI-driven materials discovery, with startups increasingly applying generative AI. The technology allows scientists to analyze millions of combinations efficiently and design materials based on desired properties upfront, reversing the conventional order of testing materials after creation.
These breakthroughs are part of a broader trend where AI is speeding up materials innovation, with applications ranging from magnets for electric vehicles to better carbon capture and advanced battery technologies.