The field of AI is witnessing significant developments in drug discovery and robotics, with a growing focus on virtual experiments and human physiology-based approaches. Recent advances in AI, high-throughput perturbation assays, and single-cell and spatial omics are enabling the construction of dynamic, multiscale models that simulate drug actions from molecular to phenotypic levels. In robotics, AI technologies are being leveraged to tackle outstanding barriers to the full deployment of robots in daily lives, with a focus on explainability, transparency, and lifelong learning. Noteworthy papers include:

• A perspective on programmable virtual humans, which introduces a new paradigm of drug discovery centered on human physiology.
• A roadmap for AI in robotics, which proposes a short- and medium-term research roadmap listing challenges and promises for the successful application of AI in robotic products.