NEWS AND VIEWS04 November 2026An AI system coordinates laboratory instruments to conduct multi-step molecular-biology experiments with limited human intervention.ByJames Zou0James ZouJames Zou is in the Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.View author publicationsSearch author on: PubMed Google ScholarView saved researchArtificial intelligence has been tremendously useful in science, but, most of the time, it is used for computational work, such as analysing data, making predictions and scouring literature. Carrying out ‘wet laboratory’ experiments — which involve handling liquids, biological material and chemicals — is another matter. An AI system might design a promising biologically active molecule in minutes, but testing it can take weeks or months and requires extensive human effort. In a paper published in Nature, Wu et al.1 introduce AutoDNA, a lab in which AI agents plan and conduct molecular-biology experiments involving DNA, with relatively little human intervention. The work shows how AI systems can begin to close the gap between proposing an experiment and doing it.Access options Access through your institutionAccess Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journalsGet Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription34.99 € / 30 days cancel any timeLearn moreSubscribe to this journalReceive 51 print issues and online access199.00 € per year only 3.90 € per issueLearn moreRent or buy this articlePrices vary by article type$1.95 to $39.95Learn morePrices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkoutdoi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-03270-1ReferencesWu, M. et al. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-11228-6 (2026).Article Google Scholar Swanson, K., Wu, W., Bulaong, N. L., Pak, J. E. & Zou, J. Nature 646, 716–723 (2025).Article PubMed Google Scholar Wittmann, B. J. et al. Science 390, 82–87 (2025).Article PubMed Google Scholar Download referencesCompeting InterestsThe author declares no competing interests.SubjectsMachine learningMolecular biologyTechnologyScientific communityLatest on:Machine learningMolecular biologyTechnologyJobs Senior Faculty Position in Cancer Research #537724Senior Faculty Position in Cancer Research #537724 Virginia Tech Roanoke, VA Virginia Tech’s (VT) Fralin Biomedical Research Institute (FBRI) is re...Roanoke, VirginiaVirginia TechPostdoctoral FellowWe are looking for highly motivated, energetic individuals to join our collaborative team at Mount Sinai and help push transplant medicine forward....One Gustave L. Levy Place, Annenberg 23, New York, NY 10029Mount Sinai Icahn School of medicineSeeking Global Talents at All Levels - SIATWe find Distinguished PIs, Senior PIs, Junior PIs, Senior Engineer, Junior Engineer, Post-doctoral fellow, Assistant research fellow.1068 Xueyuan Avenue, Shenzhen 518055 P. R. ChinaShenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (SIAT), Chinese Academy of Sciences（CAS)Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Human BehaviourJob Title: Associate or Senior Editor, Nature Human Behaviour Organisation: Nature Portfolio Location: Shanghai, Beijing, Berlin or Madrid – hybrid...Shanghai, Beijing, Berlin or Madrid – hybrid working modelSpringer Nature Ltd