Current automation is expensive and difficult to use. Scientists have to learn complex programming languages, becoming more programmers than experimenters. Machines they use understand basic commands such as ‘draw one ml of liquid from this tube to the next’, yet the burden of ensuring that protocols and methodologies are complete, carried out accurately and without fault still falls with the scientists themselves. A mountain of manual labour is a main aspect of a scientist’s job. Keoni and Roya from Trilobio want to change this. Their compact automation units and new standardised synbio language can bring a future where scientists have more time to think creatively. A future in which methodologies can be transferred using code and machines can complete protocols themselves. This will mean more experiments being done in a shorter space of time and a wider range of people gaining access to doing science. Imagine being able to do scientific experiments in your school years. Imagine wasting less time correcting iGEM cloning and transformation experiments and, instead, focusing on the innovation that can be unleashed.