The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched a new artificial intelligence-driven biotechnology platform at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland, Washington. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright commissioned and signed the Anaerobic Microbial Phenotyping Platform (AMP2), which is expected to become the largest autonomous science system for anaerobic microbial experimentation.
AMP2 was developed by Ginkgo Bioworks and is designed to give DOE scientists new tools to study microbes more efficiently. The platform uses automation and AI to speed up the process of identifying, growing, and optimizing microbes from years to just days or weeks. This technology aims to enhance biotech manufacturing and expand knowledge in basic life sciences.
“President Trump launched the Genesis Mission to ensure American leadership in science and innovation,” said Secretary Chris Wright. “This ongoing public-private partnership at PNNL will help do exactly that in the field of biotechnology. By launching AI-enabled, autonomous platforms like AMP2, our DOE National Laboratories are driving scientific breakthroughs faster than ever before and ensuring the United States leads the world in technologies that will better human lives and secure our future.”
The AMP2 initiative supports the Trump Administration’s Genesis Mission, which calls on DOE to advance American leadership in science through artificial intelligence development. The new platform will serve as a prototype for an even larger project called Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Capability (M2PC). Together, these systems aim to establish the world’s most extensive infrastructure for autonomous microbial research.
PNNL Director Deb Gracio commented on the significance of this development: “The official launch of AMP2 marks a milestone in maintaining our nation’s global leadership in biotechnology innovation,” she said. “Together with DOE and Ginkgo Bioworks, we are bringing the vision of high-throughput, AI-enabled science to life and empowering researchers to accelerate discoveries that unlock the boundless potential of microbial science.”
Jason Kelly, Founder and CEO of Ginkgo Bioworks, highlighted how these advancements could impact U.S. competitiveness: “Secretary Wright and the DOE have moved quickly on the first steps of President Trump’s Genesis Mission today with the creation of two autonomous labs that together will be the world’s largest,” he said. “Artificial intelligence paired with robotic laboratories led by our nation’s scientists will ensure the United States wins the race in science and for the bioeconomy versus our adversaries. Ginkgo is proud to play a part in the President’s effort that could be as important as the Manhattan and Apollo projects in securing US leadership of the future.”
Secretary Wright’s visit was part of his ongoing tour across all 17 DOE National Laboratories; PNNL was his 16th stop.
