1 September 2026
DeepMind's AI system now controls lab equipment and writes papers
First reported
Ars Technica ran this on , 5 days before the other 2 sources picked it up.
- DeepMind expanded AI Co-Scientist from generating hypotheses to running full research workflows, including experiment design and data analysis.
- The system can control physical lab equipment, write code, and draft scientific papers without human intervention between steps.
- AI Co-Scientist uses closed-loop feedback, meaning it reads its own results and adjusts next steps automatically.
Where they differ
AI BreakfastIndependent editors
DeepMind's AI Co-Scientist evolved from a hypothesis generator into a full lab-integrated research system that can design experiments, write code, control equipment, analyze results, and draft scientific papers with closed-loop feedback.
MindstreamAdam Biddlecombe
Anthropic is testing a new standard (MHS) to allow AI agents like Claude to control physical laboratory and manufacturing equipment through a shared communication protocol. The system could reduce setup time from weeks to hours, though the newsletter expresses concern about safety implications.
Reported by Ars Technica