This session will examine the frontiers of genomic sequencing and synthesis, providing a critical assessment of the present capabilities and charting likely trajectories for future progress. Participants will highlight the latest advances in instrumentation, informatics, and automation that are pushing beyond conventional limits, while also considering emerging technologies poised to reshape the landscape of DNA reading and writing. By focusing on accuracy, throughput, and scalability, this discussion will illuminate the fundamental shifts now taking place and the new horizons they open for biological research and innovation.

The hype around Artificial Intelligence (AI) in drug discovery and synthetic biology has never been higher. With over $5 billion invested in AI-driven biotech startups in 2024 alone, the industry is racing to redefine biological design. But are we on the cusp of true transformation, or are there fundamental limits to what AI can achieve? In this panel, leading AI/ML pioneers and biotech innovators will explore the evolving landscape of AI in biological design. From accelerating drug discovery pipelines to engineering novel biomolecules, we’ll discuss the breakthroughs, bottlenecks, and the shifting role of high-throughput experimentation in an AI-first world. What will it take to move from promise to impact? And how can material providers and technology enablers help push the boundaries? Join us for a dynamic conversation on the future of AI in biotech—where it’s headed, and what it will take to get there.