Helical Brew

#22 - When Lab Automation Fails: The Hidden Costs of Bad Automation


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▶️Hosts: Elizabeth Rodziewicz, Sura Hadi, Jeff Nagle, and Mike Ouren

🚀 Lab automation is supposed to make work easier - but why are scientists still stuck babysitting machines?

Companies spend hundreds of thousands on automation, only to assign full-time staff to ensure it actually works. That’s not automation - it’s inefficiency.

In this episode of Helical Brew, we break down the real challenges of lab automation, from bad design decisions to overlooked customer feedback, and how startups & scientists are working to fix it.

🎙 Key Topics Covered:

🔹 Why lab automation still isn’t fully automated

🔹 The hidden costs of bad automation (time, money, & frustration)

🔹 Customer-driven innovation: how real feedback improves tech

🔹 How startups can fix the biggest problems in lab automation

🔔 Next Up:AI Thought Leaders Series premieres March 23rd! First guest: Nick Edwards, CEO of ReadySetPotato, discussing AI-powered lab automation & whether AI will replace scientists.

📢 What’s the worst automation fail you’ve seen? Drop your thoughts in the comments!

📌 TIMESTAMPS – NAVIGATE THE EPISODE

00:00 - Introduction & Episode Overview

04:00 - Why Lab Automation Still Needs Human Oversight

10:30 - The Cost of Bad Automation: Wasted Time & Money

17:45 - The Role of Customer Feedback in Fixing Automation

24:15 - Industry Lessons: When Automation Makes Work Harder

32:40 - Can We Truly Automate Science? The Future of Lab Tech

40:55 - Startups & Innovation: What’s Next for Lab Automation

52:10 - Closing Thoughts & Preview of AI Thought Leaders Series

📌 NEED QUICK HIGHLIGHTS? WATCH OUR SHORTS:

🎥 https://youtube.com/shorts/e9cYrb67WrE?feature=share

🎥 https://youtube.com/shorts/ln1C8FuPkUs?feature=share

#HelicalBrew #LabAutomation #AIinScience #AutomationFails #TechForScience #Biotech #ScientificInnovation #AutomationProblems #FutureOfLabs #AIThoughtLeaders

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Helical BrewBy Sura Hadi | Mike Ouren | Elizabeth Rodziewicz