Toward full automation in synthetic biology: A progressive conceptual framework integrating robotics and intelligent agents

Synthetic biology is a rapidly evolving discipline that seeks to understand, modify, design, and build biological systems by applying modular and systemic principles inspired by engineering. Automation in synthetic biology offers significant gains in efficiency, reproducibility, and standardization, enabling more reliable and scalable experiments while reducing human fatigue and health risks. This shift allows researchers to focus on experimental design, data analysis, and innovation rather than repetitive tasks. More recently, artificial intelligence has begun to reshape laboratory work at a cognitive level, enabling machines to analyze data, make decisions, and learn from experience. Artificial intelligence in biology has the potential to accelerate discovery, optimize experimental design, and enhance data analysis by identifying patterns beyond human capabilities. The convergence of robotics and artificial intelligence offers a promising future for synthetic biology but also raises ethical concerns. As the creation of engineered life becomes increasingly automated and shaped by intelligent agents, questions about governance, responsibility, and transparency become more pressing. In this article, we examine the progress and prospects of both physical (robotic) and cognitive (intelligent agent) automation in synthetic biology. We begin with an overview of automation technologies in industrial and laboratory settings, then discuss the objectives and challenges of synthetic biology from an automation perspective. Finally, we propose a dual conceptual framework: one for total automation of the Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) cycle, and another for progressive automation adaptable to diverse laboratory contexts. Our aim is to support the development and responsible implementation of automation systems in synthetic biology laboratories.