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AI’s Influence on Life Sciences Real Estate
The life sciences industry has been incorporating artificial intelligence into activities like effective drug development, better patient outcomes models and more efficient supply chain and manufacturing processes.
Here’s another fact. According to a recent CBRE article, AI will also affect life sciences-focused real estate portfolios in three ways.
The Need for More Electricity and Power
The article noted that “the rise of AI and machine learning is driving significant changes in data centers.” This includes increased use of graphics processing units and liquid cooling to reduce heat.
Plus, AI is forecast to drive data center demand. This means changing data center design and technology to “manage rising power density needs,” the article said. Because of this, AI objectives with data center supply and demand will lead to “a strategic and cooperative approach between the business, technology and real estate stakeholders,” the article’s authors added.
Impact on Lab Space/Office Design and Head Count
The article explained that AI adoption will improve the quality of the workspace and increase the amount of collaboration space. AI use requires skilled workers who want better office and lab space and amenities. Plus quality workspace will need to be in place to attract and retain qualified and skilled workers.
“The workplace will need to evolve to remain relevant and stimulate innovation, creativity and inspiration—all necessary in the evolving world of biotechnology,” the article said.
Influence on Clinical Outcomes
While AI has been influential in certain areas, its impact on drug discovery and development is still new, with “most novel drugs in preclinical or discovery phase,” the article observed. From 2015 to the present, 75 AI-discovered molecules have undergone clinical trials, with the first-phase trials achieving up to a 90% success rate. However, an AI-developed drug still lacks approval.
The article explained that the uncertainty around AI-based drugs “exacerbates the need for future flexibility in office and lab space for life sciences of all types and sizes.”
It’s Not Too Soon . . .
The article acknowledged that AI’s potential ramifications in life sciences are still unknown. But physical preparation should be underway. “Despite the uncertainty, companies have many ways to prepare real estate portfolios for AI’s future requirements while maintaining flexibility in the interim,” the article said.
- ◦Development
- ◦People
- ◦Economy
