Google claims that researchers use its AI to develop self-healing asphalt

Google said that researchers have just used its artificial intelligence (AI) technology to build a new type of asphalt: a self-healing one that can fix itself if there are ever some potholes.

Researchers, in collaboration with Google Cloud’s AI, have developed self-healing asphalt made from biomass to address the UK’s pothole problem. This new asphalt mimics natural regenerative processes, which lets it repair cracks over time without manual intervention.

The research, led by King’s College London, Swansea University, and Chilean scientists, uses Google’s machine learning to accelerate the study of organic molecules in complex fluids like bitumen, the substance used in asphalt.

Using that, they developed a new data-driven model to accelerate atomistic simulations, which advanced their understanding of bitumen oxidation and crack formation.

This innovation, tested in labs, can extend road lifespan by 30%. It uses porous spores filled with recycled oils, which could reduce the need for traditional asphalt production and its associated carbon emissions.

Google had previously said that it’s investing a $20 million fund to support AI-driven scientific breakthroughs.

The UK has a growing problem with road potholes. The government said last year that it’s allocating a £1.6 billion investment to fix potholes and repair roads alone in 2025.

This funding, which is nearly 50% higher than last year, will allow councils to repair up to 7 million additional potholes. The initiative also includes a £500 million increase in funding for local authorities and incentives for effective use of the money, with a focus on preventative maintenance.