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Home > Once a Scientist > 94. Ira Hoffman, CEO of HighRes on robots, digital twins and how we will speed up science
Podcast: Once a Scientist
Episode:

94. Ira Hoffman, CEO of HighRes on robots, digital twins and how we will speed up science

Category: Science & Medicine
Duration: 00:43:08
Publish Date: 2026-05-06 14:00:00
Description:

Ira Hoffman is the CEO of HighRes. He has a M.S. in Computer Science and a B.A. in Physics/Mathematics from the University of Vermont. 

OUTLINE:
[00:00] - Introduction to collaborative robots and safe human-robot coexistence
[01:52] - CEO of Hi Res (formerly Hi Res BioSolutions), 20-year journey in lab automation
[03:36] - Deep diving into AI strategy and product development
[05:23] - From large-scale automation to accessibility for scientists
[06:45] - How robots safely coexist with humans in labs
[09:19] - Too many unvalidated hypotheses from AI tools
[09:39] - Moving from high-throughput screening to prescriptive hypothesis testing
[11:21] - Physical and digital integration challenges
[15:46] - How chaos in early research differs from standardized processes
[19:17] - Why fully autonomous labs are still far away
[21:09] - Identifying automation opportunities vs. necessary human involvement
[22:13] - Why large molecule biologics are easier to automate
[23:36] - A leading example of closed-loop design-make-test-analyze
[27:22] - AI-powered products enhancing automation workflows
[28:47] - How to upskill teams in using AI tools effectively
[31:44] - 3D visualization, AR overlays, and workflow simulation
[36:36] - Why capturing contextual data is critical for consistent results
[39:43] - Leadership approach under pressure and creativity
[41:57] - Find your passion in science and technology 
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