The Role of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning in Polymer Characterization: Emerging Trends and Perspectives.

The application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) is rapidly expanding and has begun to make a significant impact on polymer development and characterization. This perspective article explores the current state of AI in this field and highlights areas where its potential remains underutilized. While the optimization of polymer synthesis to achieve desired properties and the classification of polymer types are well-established, opportunities for AI integration in detailed characterization, analytical method development, and data processing remain largely untapped. Greater automation of the analytical laboratory, whether through dedicated algorithms or AI-driven solutions, will enable analytical chemists to focus more on addressing research questions and interpreting results, rather than on method development and routine measurements.