AI Runs the Lab: Scientists Build Self-Driving Biomolecular Lab

Scientists have built an experimental laboratory where artificial intelligence (AI) runs the experiments on its own. The system is designed for autonomous biomolecular operations — meaning AI plans, performs, and analyzes experiments on biological molecules such as DNA and proteins with little or no human input. The lab is described as "AI-native," meaning AI sits at the center of the system rather than being added on later. In practice, researchers set the goals, and the AI handles the rest: choosing experiments, running equipment, and reviewing results. This approach could speed up research by allowing experiments to run continuously and by letting the AI adjust its next steps based on each result. It may also reduce human error and free scientists to focus on bigger questions. The work remains experimental, and the source material does not say how widely the system can be used or when it might reach real-world labs. Still, it points to a growing push to make scientific research faster and more automated.