On 23rd September, AIchemy welcomed researchers from academia and industry to the University of Leeds for Demystifying Agentic AI & AI Agents, a one-day hands-on workshop exploring how emerging AI approaches could be applied within chemical research.
With agentic AI developing rapidly, the workshop was designed to move beyond simply talking about the technology and give participants an opportunity to explore it in practice. Through practical sessions, collaborative challenges and discussion, attendees considered how tools such as retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) and AI agents could support chemical research and innovation.
Getting Hands-On with RAG and Agentic AI
The day began with a hands-on RAG workshop delivered by Data Revival, introducing participants to retrieval-augmented generation and providing an opportunity to develop their understanding through practical activities.
Rather than focusing solely on the theory behind these emerging technologies, the session encouraged attendees to explore how they work, where they can be useful and some of the practical considerations involved in applying them within research.
The focus then shifted towards AI agents, with participants putting ideas into practice through a hackathon-style session. Working collaboratively, attendees explored the process of building and experimenting with agents for chemistry, turning concepts discussed throughout the day into practical examples.
Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Alongside the practical sessions, the workshop also created space to think more broadly about where agentic AI could have the greatest impact within chemical science. Researchers and industry representatives came together to discuss real-world challenges, potential methodologies and opportunities for future collaboration. These conversations were an important part of the day, helping to connect emerging AI capabilities with genuine research needs and identify areas where new approaches could offer value. With participants bringing different levels of experience and expertise, the workshop provided an opportunity to learn from one another, test ideas and consider what the growing capabilities of agentic AI could mean for the future of chemical research.
From Understanding to Experimentation
Agentic AI is moving quickly, and understanding its potential requires opportunities to experiment with the technology rather than simply hear about it. Workshops like this provide a space for researchers to do exactly that: building practical skills, asking questions, sharing challenges and exploring how new technologies might translate into useful tools for chemistry.
A huge thank you to everyone involved in organising and delivering the workshop. And, of course, thank you to everyone who joined us in Leeds and threw themselves into the hands-on activities and discussions throughout the day. We hope attendees left with a clearer understanding of RAG and agentic AI, some new ideas to explore and perhaps a few new collaborations too.
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We look forward to seeing you at our next event!