In a laboratory at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), AI and automation have transformed traditional chemistry research from manual testing to instruction on an intelligent platform.In 2021, Professor Jiang Jun's team developed the first-generation chemical expert robot "Xiao Lai", which enables round-the-clock operation and autonomous experiment design.
The second generation, “Xiao Lin”, now handles more complex tasks, evolving from a labor substitute to a collaborative research partner.
The team's ultimate goal is fully autonomous science, with machines able to discover new research directions and assist even those who are not experts in materials manufacturing.
Let's take a closer look at the following series of photos!
The chemical expert robot "Xiao Lai" conducts an experiment in a laboratory at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei, Anhui Province, China, on Nov. 24, 2025.
This photo taken on November 24, 2025, shows the robot chemist "Xiao Lin" in a laboratory at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Hefei, Anhui Province, China.
Professor Zhu Zhuoying (right) talks with PhD candidate Guo Lulu in front of the chemistry robot "Xiao Lin" at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) laboratory in Hefei, Anhui Province, China, Nov. 24, 2025.
