Building an AI-Driven Autonomous Lab for Life Science R&D | Discovery Engines
About this episode
Jason Kelly, CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks, believes the future of life science R&D is autonomous, starting with the 52-cart lab he and his team have built in Boston. In this episode, I sit down with Jason to explore Ginkgo's autonomous biology lab, its collaboration with OpenAI, the POTUS-backed Genesis Mission, and where autonomous physical systems could take science next.
Hosted by Nabil Laoudji. See below for episode links, chapters, and our socials. 🙏🙌
Episode Links:
- Ginkgo Bioworks
- Jason Kelly's LinkedIn
- OpenAI x Ginkgo Cell-Free Protein Synthesis Collaboration
- Genesis Mission to Accelerate AI for Scientific Discovery
- PNNL's Anaerobic Microbial Phenotyping Platform (AMP2)
- Society for Lab Automation and Screening
- GlobalData Report: Large Pharma Drug Licensing from China
Chapters:
- (00:00) - Preview
- (01:54) - Jurassic Park and the Value of Storytelling in Science
- (04:50) - What Is the Department of Energy's AMP2 at PNNL?
- (07:17) - How Autonomous Labs Can Be Used to Run Experiments
- (11:49) - Principles of the Autonomous Lab (Waymo Analogy)
- (17:12) - Project Genesis, Competing with China in Scientific Discovery
- (23:42) - Reindustrializing America via Automation
- (37:03) - OpenAI Designing and Running Bio Experiments
- (47:17) - Advice to Frontier Labs Designing AI Intelligence for Science
- (49:24) - Ginkgo Autonomous Lab Tour
- (1:00:38) - OpenAI's Interface With Ginkgo
- (1:02:51) - Lab Scheduler Platform
- (1:16:19) - Advice for Deep Tech Startups
- (1:22:22) - Advice for Scientists and Founders Thinking About Where to Focus in Biotech
- (1:25:18) - How Research Labs Could Better Collaborate and Communicate Results
- (1:29:23) - Advantages and Challenges of Going Public
- (1:32:14) - Public Perception of Ginkgo
- (1:33:57) - How Ginkgo's Business Model Has Changed
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