科好玩｜从“小来”到“小临”，一起了解“机器化学家”的故事

Core Insights - The article highlights the emergence and capabilities of "machine chemists," which utilize artificial intelligence to revolutionize chemical research and enhance efficiency in scientific experiments [2][3][7]. Group 1: Development of "Machine Chemists" - The traditional chemical research paradigm relies heavily on trial and error, leading to long cycles and high costs for new material creation [3]. - In 2013, a team at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) began exploring the use of big data technology to innovate chemical research, addressing issues of low efficiency and data dispersion [3][6]. - After three years of data collection, the "machine chemist" named "Xiao Lai" was developed, integrating mobile robots and intelligent chemical workstations, capable of performing 2,000 precise operations daily, equivalent to the work of five to six researchers [6][8]. Group 2: Achievements of "Xiao Lai" - "Xiao Lai" demonstrated remarkable capabilities in researching Martian oxygen catalysts, identifying optimal solutions in just six weeks, a task that would take human researchers 2,000 years [7]. - The research findings were published in the prestigious journal "Nature Synthesis," showcasing the potential for in-situ chemical production in extraterrestrial environments [7]. Group 3: Advancements with "Xiao Lin" - The second-generation "machine chemist," "Xiao Lin," was introduced, featuring enhanced efficiency and the ability to autonomously design and optimize experiments using generative models [8][11]. - "Xiao Lin" successfully reduced the material screening time for energy-absorbing materials from ten years to seven months, showcasing its advanced analytical capabilities [11]. Group 4: Future Plans and Vision - The research team plans to construct a "machine chemist building" to accommodate hundreds of robots and thousands of intelligent workstations, aiming for a daily experimental capacity of one million operations [12]. - Future iterations of "machine chemists" will include advanced sensory capabilities, allowing them to analyze molecular structures and chemical differences, further enhancing their research capabilities [12].