IIT Delhi-led team creates AILA, an AI agent that autonomously operates Atomic Force Microscope

Exam-focused facts from the 26 December 2025 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

The AI system can operate scientific instruments, make decisions during experiments, and analyse data without human involvement.
AILA was trained to operate an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), a highly sensitive instrument used to study materials at the nanoscale.
With AILA, optimising microscope parameters for high-resolution, noise-free images that earlier took an entire day is now completed in just seven to ten minutes.
AI systems that perform well in theoretical or quiz-based assessments often struggle in dynamic laboratory environments that require rapid adaptation.
The AI agent occasionally deviated from instructions, underscoring the need for robust safeguards to prevent equipment damage or accidents.