The Paul Jensen Lab at the University of Michigan has been awarded the Empowering Research with AI Award for its groundbreaking project, BacterAI, which merges artificial intelligence with high-throughput robotics to revolutionize microbiological research. Presented during the MIDAS AI in Research Symposium, the award recognizes the lab's innovative approach to automating experiments. BacterAI operates like a self-driving lab, autonomously designing experiments and executing them using a fleet of robots. The system learns through trial and error, similar to AI agents mastering board games, allowing it to propose optimal growth media for bacteria based on experimental feedback. The lab emphasizes the importance of engineering in generating high-quality biological data, addressing the common challenge of data scarcity in microbiology. As automation increases, the role of scientists is evolving, focusing more on overseeing robotic systems rather than performing repetitive tasks. This award reflects the collaborative efforts of the entire Jensen Lab team, showcasing their commitment to advancing research through AI and robotics.