Media

Putting AI to work: five BASF success stories

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become one of the greatest technological developments of the last decade, entering virtually every industry in the world, including the chemical industry. Essentially, AI is a branch of computer science that focuses on creating systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.

In the AI universe, there are several popular subsets, including machine learning, deep learning and generative AI (genAI). The first one involves algorithms and statistical models to improve task performance and data analysis, the second uses neural networks in the form of layers to analyze and model complex patterns into datasets, and genAI creates new content, data or information.

At BASF, artificial intelligence has become a key ally to assist and improve site operations, provide research data and enhance collaboration with customers across the United States. Discover five successful AI tools developed by BASF below.

1. PlantGPT

One of BASF’s most recent AI innovations is an AI-powered digital assistant focused on operations and site services that provides plant-specific knowledge in real time. The tool was developed by BASF’s Intermediate business at the Acetylene Plant in Geismar, Louisiana, in collaboration with the teams from the Digital Hubs in Ludwigshafen, Germany and Madrid, Spain.

To ensure quality responses, the digital assistant was trained with thousands of documents, safety procedures and materials.

With PlantGPT, BASF plant and engineering teams can improve operational efficiency and access reliable data to quickly inform their decision-making. The digital assistant can also be used as a training tool, helping onboard new colleagues in a faster, more effective way.

2. QKnows AI

Throughout its 160 years of existence, BASF has amassed a wide array of research reports and patents. This, alongside the millions of patents filed every year around the world, can turn a simple search for information or background into an extremely complex task. QKnows is a unique solution, tailored to the needs of BASF’s global research and development (R&D) community, that allows to search for literature, patents and BASF’s research reports in a single application.

With QKnows, users can ask questions in their natural language, and the tool will review its extensive database of more than 400 million documents to help uncover relevant knowledge in a quicker, more efficient way. QKnows provides researchers with a competitive edge, which in turn helps accelerate innovation across the entire R&D community in BASF.

The first version of the tool was introduced in April 2023 as a chatbot for BASF’s research knowledge. Today, QKnows has integrated AI-related features for all types of content, such as reasoning and deep research modes, which allows users to interact with the search results, documents or even with collections of documents, explore complex scientific topics and generate deep insights – in their preferred language.

3. xarvio^® Digital Farming Solutions

At BASF, AI is harnessed not only to assist and complement the work of our workforce, but also to provide the best solutions for our customers. Applying AI in farming can help optimize the use of resources, while also providing accurate data to aid farmers in their decision-making process, all of which are key to ensuring food security for generations to come.

xarvio^® Digital Farming Solutions provides digital tools that help farmers understand their fields better, and make better crop management decisions - improving productivity, profitability and sustainability.

Using machine learning, the xarvio^® platform constantly analyzes and combines a wide range of data inputs including satellite biomass images, weather and historical farm information, with proven plant growth, pest and disease prediction models. This process results in the delivery of field specific agronomic recommendations across the entire season, from seeding to harvest, optimizing production.

With xarvio^®, farmers can, for example, access plant growth information and receive real-time disease monitoring and weather-based alerts, which in turn can help them farm more precisely, applying herbicides only to the areas that need them and in the right dose while optimizing machine fuel consumption, saving time and reducing emissions.

Learn more about xarvio^® Field Manager

4. D'lite

Today, the personal care sphere has a wide range of different products available to developers, which can turn every decision into an ever more complex task. In an effort to support customers, BASF has developed an online platform, D’lite, that enables developers to create and customize formulations in the sun, oral, hair and skin segments, accessing BASF’s latest innovations and concepts.

Among the many features D’lite offers, customers can access BASF’s internal product and formulation databases, edit their formulations and see their effects in real time.

Learn more about D’lite

5. ZoomLab^®

The development of any new drug, from the initial research to the clinical trials, regulatory review and approval process, often spans over several years. To help simplify and accelerate drug development, BASF Pharma Solutions developed a digital platform, ZoomLab^®.

The AI supported tool, which was developed using machine learning among other technologies, can effectively cut times in the lab as well as development costs by helping formulators identify the right ingredients to develop liquid, semisolid and solid products, instantly predicting and optimizing formulations, accelerating the path to lab trials.

With ZoomLab^®, customers can access a vast database of ingredients and formulations based on BASF and platform partners’ ingredients and even order samples directly while keeping the drug chemistry confidential. They can also access training materials as well as scientific and technical support from BASF experts.

Learn more about ZoomLab^®

These five AI-driven solutions illustrate how BASF is turning advanced algorithms into practical tools that boost productivity, speed innovation, and deliver tangible value to customers and colleagues alike — from the plant floor to the research bench and out into the field — positioning the company to meet tomorrow’s challenges more efficiently and sustainably.

Published on November 24, 2025, by Mariana Licio.

For media inquiries or to repurpose this article, please contact Lisa Brown.