IIT Delhi Develops AI Agent AILA for Autonomous Lab Experiments

Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi have developed an advanced AI-driven system named AILA, or Artificially Intelligent Lab Assistant. The innovation marks a significant step towards autonomous scientific research, enabling machines to conduct real laboratory experiments with minimal human intervention.

Agentic AI Framework Behind AILA

AILA is built on an AI Agentic Framework designed to mimic the reasoning and decision-making abilities of a human scientist. The system operates through a simple chat-based interface, similar to a chatbot, where researchers provide instructions in plain English. These instructions are automatically translated into executable code, allowing the AI agent to design, conduct, and manage experiments independently.

Real-Time Control of Scientific Instruments

The research team demonstrated AILA using the Atomic Force Microscope, a highly complex tool widely used in materials science and nanotechnology research. According to research scholar Indrajeet Mandal, AILA can directly control the microscope, take real-time decisions during experiments, and analyse experimental results without manual supervision.

Implications for India’s Scientific Ecosystem

Professor Anoop Krishnan stated that technologies like AILA have the potential to transform India’s scientific research landscape. By automating routine and time-intensive experimental procedures, the system can significantly reduce the time required to complete experiments while optimising the use of skilled manpower and laboratory resources.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• AILA stands for Artificially Intelligent Lab Assistant.
• It is developed by researchers at IIT Delhi.
• The system uses an Agentic AI framework to conduct real experiments.
• AILA has been demonstrated using an Atomic Force Microscope.

Efficiency Gains and Future Applications

The researchers noted that experiments which typically take hours or days can now be completed within minutes using AILA. By enabling faster experimentation and independent data analysis, the system is expected to accelerate research output, support high-throughput experimentation, and strengthen India’s position in advanced scientific and technological innovation.