A new solid electrolyte material has been discovered using AI and supercomputing tools that could potentially reduce lithium use in batteries by up to 70%. Microsoft researchers used AI and supercomputers to screen through 32 million potential materials in under a week to identify 18 promising candidates, a process that would have taken over 20 years through traditional lab research methods. The demand for lithium, crucial for lithium-ion batteries, is projected to surge due to the growth of electric vehicles and other technologies, raising concerns about potential shortages and the environmental toll of mining.