Core Viewpoint - The company Zhite New Materials has registered a subsidiary, Zhite Xiaolin Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., to enter the field of chemical robotics, leveraging technology from a national laboratory with significant market potential in various sectors such as pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, new energy, and chemicals [1]. Group 1: Chemical Robotics Advantages - The first-generation robot "Xiao Lai" can perform an average of 2,000 precise operations daily, equivalent to the work of 5-6 researchers, with senior R&D personnel earning over 500,000 annually [3]. - The core of the chemical robot is its embodied model (brain), developed by the Precision Intelligent Laboratory of USTC, which has created the best material AI model on the market through AI and new paradigms [3]. - The second-generation robot "Xiao Lin" features enhanced visual, algorithmic, and operational capabilities, including an additional robotic arm for increased experimental efficiency [5]. Group 2: Material Development and Market Potential - Zhite Xiaolin has developed dozens of AI new materials, including "super insulation materials," which will be rapidly industrialized through Zhite's main business channels [8]. - The second-generation robot "Xiao Lin" completed the formulation screening for "super insulation materials" in just seven months, a process that traditionally takes ten years [8]. - The "super insulation materials" can be used in coatings and sheets, with a thermal insulation coefficient twice that of traditional aerogels, applicable in construction, automotive glass, and new energy batteries [8].

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].