IIT Delhi develops ‘AILA’, an AI agent that can conduct real lab experiments without human inputs

Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, in collaboration with scientists from Denmark and Germany, have developed an artificial intelligence agent named Artificially Intelligent Lab Assistant — AILA — which can autonomously conduct real scientific experiments, marking a significant breakthrough in the field of laboratory automation.

AILA can operate an atomic force microscope (AFM), which is one of the most complex and sensitive instruments used in materials research. This AI agent can design experiments, operate equipment, make real-time decisions, collect data, and analyse results without human intervention.

“Until now, AI models like ChatGPT have primarily been used as digital assistants for tasks such as writing, data analysis, and answering questions. AILA takes several steps forward by working directly with laboratory equipment,” the IIT Delhi stated.

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“Tasks that previously took a full day, such as adjusting the microscope parameters for high-resolution imaging, can now be completed by AILA in just 7 to 10 minutes,” said Indrajeet Mandal, the study’s first author and a PhD scholar at IIT Delhi.

IIT Delhi’s ‘AILA’: From writing to doing science

NM Anoop Krishnan from IIT Delhi explained that this development signifies a shift in AI from ‘writing about science’ to actually ‘doing science’.

Nithya Nand Gosvami further added that operating an AFM instrument typically requires several years of training, and AILA's ability to autonomously manage such tasks represents a paradigm shift in experimental research.

This project involved researchers from IIT Delhi, Aalborg University in Denmark, the Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology in Germany, and the University of Jena. The researchers also identified some challenges. They noted that AI models that excel in theoretical knowledge might struggle to perform in real-world laboratory settings.

“The breakthrough aligns with India's 'Artificial Intelligence for Science' initiative and the funding announcements recently made by the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF),” the institute stated.