Mark Thomson, the incoming director general of CERN, believes that advanced artificial intelligence will revolutionize fundamental physics and provide insights into the fate of the universe. In an exclusive interview, Thomson discussed the potential impact of AI on particle physics research at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). Thomson highlighted a special measurement of the Higgs boson, often called the “God particle,” which gives mass to other particles and unifies the universe.
Scientists aim to observe the formation of two Higgs bosons simultaneously, a rare phenomenon that could reveal crucial information about the nature of the universe. “What we will be looking at is the formation of not one Higgs boson, but two Higgs bosons at the same time,” said Thomson. He added that even five years ago, detecting this phenomenon was thought to be beyond the capabilities of the LHC.
AI is being integrated into every aspect of the LHC’s operation, from data collection to interpretation. Dr. Catherine Leni, who works on the LHC Atlas experiment, emphasized the importance of AI in their research.
Ai advances in particle physics
When the LHC collides protons, it does about 40 million collisions per second, and we have to make decisions within a microsecond about which events are interesting and worth keeping,” said Dr. Leni. She noted that AI has advanced research by at least 20 years. Scientists have long hoped that the LHC could produce dark matter, the substance thought to make up much of the universe.
Thomson is confident that generative artificial intelligence can help make significant progress in this area. The LHC is set to undergo a major upgrade in 2030, which is expected to increase the beam intensity tenfold. This upgrade could lead to groundbreaking discoveries in particle physics.
Despite some skepticism due to the lack of grand results since the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012, Thomson believes that AI has provided fresh impetus to the hunt for new physics at the subatomic scale. As Thomson prepares to take the helm at CERN in January 2026, he remains focused on fostering international collaboration and ensuring that the organization remains at the forefront of scientific breakthroughs.
April Isaacs is a news contributor for DevX.com She is long-term, self-proclaimed nerd. She loves all things tech and computers and still has her first Dreamcast system. It is lovingly named Joni, after Joni Mitchell.
