Large Language Models, and the chat interfaces based on them (like ChatGPT), are one of the hottest topics both in the business world and in our personal lives. The internet has been awash with examples of what can be done with this cutting-edge technology, with examples from nearly every industry of how LLMs are being used to improve productivity. And the lab informatics and life sciences spaces are no exception, thanks to the work that Sapio Sciences has done in this area.
In October 2023 we launched Jarvis, our AI-powered lab data integration solution (learn more about Jarvis here). And in November we launched a brand new feature for anyone using Jarvis, our ELN (Electronic Lab Notebook), or LIMS (Laboratory Information Management System): Sapio ELaiN. In case you missed the launch, ELaiN is our Electronic Laboratory Artificially Intelligent Notebook that uses LLMs to allow users to ask Sapio Jarvis, ELN, or LIMS natural language questions. In other words, ELaiN is a science-aware AI assistant that helps scientists work more quickly and efficiently.
How does Sapio’s AI assistant work?
ELaiN uses LLM (Large Language Machine) technology to allow scientists to use simple natural language phrases to “ask” their ELN or LIMS to conduct various tasks or to ask it a question. But ELaiN isn’t like a regular chatbot with pre-written answers or a human agent. It also differs from tools like ChatGPT as Sapio’s ELN, LIMS, and Jarvis products have been explicitly trained on it. So it can answer natural language questions about aspects of experiments, assays, workflows, samples, materials, and inventory, but without accessing client source data.
You can think of ELaiN as the ultimate scientific assistant, helping you do things faster and better. The great thing is that we’re still in the relatively early stages of developing ELaiN. As ELaiN gets trained to do more, you’ll be able to use her as a co-worker to bounce ideas off, theorize with, and help accelerate your scientific discoveries.
Why do I need an AI assistant in a lab informatics platform?
At our core, Sapio Sciences is helping accelerate scientific research, such as drug discovery, bioanalysis, or genomic sequencing. ELaiN (along with our LIMS, ELN, and Jarvis products) is one of the ways we’re doing this. So if you’re thinking about how machine learning can help you in the lab, it is there to improve your workflows and help you work faster and more efficiently.
Right now that is by supporting you with data management and data searching, automation of experiment setup, and helping you make better use of the LIMS and ELN. But ultimately, artificial intelligence will do a lot of the heavy lifting that is currently done through manual work. It will get to a point where your scientific AI assistant will work with you to create experiments in silico, reduce bench work, and help you uncover breakthroughs more quickly.
How is ELaiN helping people in the lab?
There is a wide range of ways that ELaiN can be used in the lab. Below, we’ve listed some of the key use cases, but to some extent, you’re only limited by your imagination. Have a look at the examples below to get you thinking about how you could use ELaiN in your lab.
Let ELaiN create Python code for you
Writing Python code can be one of the most laborious and challenging parts of working in a modern lab (especially if the code doesn’t work!). While all our solutions are built on a common no-code platform, if you want to use ELaiN to generate Python code to configure it, just describe what you want it to do, and in a jiffy, you’ll generate code to deploy.
For example, you can ask ELaiN a question like “How can I create an experiment called ‘Test Experiment’ that is based on the ‘Test’ Template in Python code?” and from this, you’ll get ready to use Python code:
Use ELaiN to Review Your Inventory
Managing the inventory of a lab can be a tedious process, often involving a lot of manual clicking and searching – Sapio’s platform includes a powerful search capability that simplifies this task. But with ELaiN, all it takes is one question to see exactly what you’re looking for in your inventory. For example, you can ask “Find me all the DNA samples I created this year” or “What reagents will expire next month?” and ELaiN will show you the results in a data table list, like this:
Quickly Create a New Experiment With ELaiN
Another useful way to use ELaiN is to let it set up experiments for you. All you need to do is define the experiment’s parameters, such as “Create a plate with 8 cell line samples diluted 3×7 and put controls in A11 and A12”. From this, ELaiN would create a new experiment, saving you the time that would have been spent doing this manually. What’s more, is that ELaiN can create a 3D plate layout for you.
Ask a Question About Using the Sapio LIMS, ELN, or Jarvis solutions
As well as helping you more quickly set up experiments, ELaiN can answer any questions you’ve got about using Jarvis, Sapio ELN, or Sapio LIMS. Via the Sapio Support Agent, which is part of ELaiN, you simply ask your support query as a natural language question, and ELaiN does the rest. For example, if you ask, “How do admins add users?”, you’d get a response like this from ELaiN:
And from this point you’re able to ask further questions based on your original question, helping you get the exact answer you need.
How can I try ELaiN for myself?
ELaiN is already available in beta form to all Sapio Science customers using the cloud version of our LIMS, ELN, or Jarvis products. All you need to do is open the chat and notifications widget in the top left corner. Once this is open, you’ll see ELaiN and the Sapio Support Agent on the left-hand side. Just click on the + icon to start asking your questions! Please note ELaiN is currently free while in beta but will be an optional paid-for feature in the future.
And if you’re not currently a Sapio customer and you’re interested in seeing ELaiN in action in our ELN, LIMS or Jarvis products, why not arrange a demo with our sales team?