SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory announced SPIRE on October 8, a project to build a self-driving laboratory that links autonomous instruments, robotic sample handling and AI-guided experimental control across multiple facilities.
From beam setup to adaptive experiments
The project focuses on intelligent accelerator operation, autonomous experimental stations and shared digital infrastructure. SLAC says the system is intended to help researchers configure equipment, adapt experiments as data arrives and coordinate complex facilities more efficiently.
The Department of Energy separately announced a contemporaneous set of Genesis Mission awards for AI-enabled science, corroborating the federal program context. SPIRE’s specific performance gains and operating reliability remain future research outcomes rather than established results.