Basic Concepts and Tools of Artificial Intelligence in Polymer Science

In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative tool for addressing scientific and technical challenges across various disciplines. AI enables data-driven predictions, uncovers hidden patterns, and automates labor-intensive tasks, offering unprecedented opportunities for innovation. However, its rapid rise has been disruptive, and many scientific fields—including polymer science—were not fully prepared for its integration. The complexity of polymer systems, coupled with the traditionally empirical nature of the field, has made AI adoption particularly challenging. Many polymer scientists still face significant barriers, including technical complexity, and a lack of interdisciplinary training. This perspective serves as an entry point for researchers seeking to integrate AI into polymer science by presenting real-world applications, practical tools, and key challenges. Rather than providing an exhaustive review for specialists, it aims to familiarize polymer scientists with AI’s capabilities and encourage further exploration. By lowering entry barriers and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue, this work bridges the gap between conventional polymer research and data-driven innovation, paving the way for future advancements.