Vinod Khosla-backed Unicorn launches new AI lab robot

For those familiar with laboratory work, the monotony of laboratory work is all too familiar. From precise pipetting to meticulous experimental setup and data processing, scientists invest countless hours on repetitive tasks. But what if there was a tool that could alleviate this burden, freeing up valuable time for innovation and discovery? Imagine the impact of such a solution, allowing scientists to fully pursue breakthroughs. Opentrons, a biotech company headquartered in New York City, has been working tirelessly to achieve this goal.

This week, ahead of SynBioBeta’s 2023 annual meeting, Opentrons CEO Jonathan Brennan-Badal announced the launch of their second robot, the Flex Robot. This groundbreaking robot combines state-of-the-art hardware with flawless AI compatibility, igniting a new wave of enthusiasm in laboratory automation. Brennan-Badal will talk about the launch during a fireside chat at the SynBioBeta conference on Tuesday, May 23.

Flex Robots builds on the success of Opentron’s first robot, the OT-2, by combining advanced robotics technology with a deep open source software ecosystem. It is designed to be compatible with artificial intelligence tools, enabling rapid reconfiguration for new applications and providing scientists with time-saving solutions. Additionally, Flex robots have full access to Opentrons’ extensive library of over 500 protocols, enabling self-learning capabilities.

Opentrons truly stands out by integrating advanced artificial intelligence technology into its bots to be able to execute instructions generated by ChatGPT. Within weeks of OT-2’s release, customers were already training ChatGPT models and generating software to run on the bot. This integration reduces development time from years to weeks. Scientists at institutions such as Stanford University's Endy Lab are leveraging computer vision software on the OT-2 to perform specialized tasks such as colony picking. Opentrons’ goal is that the latest Flex robots will further integrate with instructions generated by ChatGPT, accelerating the application of artificial intelligence in bioautomation at an unprecedented rate.

One of the outstanding features of the Opentrons robot is its economy. Opentron's first robot, the OT-2, sells for just under $10,000, a fraction of the cost of similar competitors. Flex robots will continue to compete tenfold with competitors and are currently priced at just 10% of the cost of similar robots on the market. Such pricing allows Opentrons to maintain the industry's highest margins while offering the lowest prices. Unlike competitors that rely on buying subcomponents and assembling them, Opentrons has rebuilt its entire ecosystem to create fully functional and affordable robots.