Microsoft and the US Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) have used High-Performance Computing (HPC) and AI to identify a new material for batteries in just 80 hours.

The collaboration leverages AI and other computing technologies to find solutions to global challenges.

Using Microsoft's Azure Quantum Elements, the team narrowed down a data set of 32.6 million potential materials to just 18 in less than four days.

PNNL experts further narrowed the list to identify lithium-sodium as the most suitable material for a battery.

This process, which typically takes several years, was significantly accelerated by using AI and HPC.

Microsoft's initiative is similar to efforts by IBM and Google Cloud to speed up scientific discoveries.