Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing the way we think about scientific software. Yet when people hear the term AI for thin-film deposition, they often imagine fully autonomous laboratories where software controls every aspect of an experiment.

That future is exciting—but it is not the only future.

At Bizmuth MBE, we believe there are two distinct ways AI can transform deposition workflows: AI assistance and AI autonomy. They solve different problems, serve different users, and can coexist within the same laboratory.

Uni: AI Assistance

Uni is designed to work alongside your existing deposition software rather than replace it.

Think of Uni as a domain-specific ChatGPT built exclusively for thin-film deposition. Instead of searching the general internet, Uni understands your laboratory. It learns your OEM software, user manuals, recipes, process documentation, historical data, and experimental workflows.

It can help you:

• Explain software features and workflows.
• Generate, review and optimise recipes.
• Analyse process logs and identify anomalies.
• Answer questions about materials and deposition techniques.
• Compare experiments and suggest possible causes for unexpected results.

Most importantly, Uni operates entirely on your own infrastructure. Running 100% on an edge PC keeps sensitive process knowledge within your laboratory while providing fast, responsive AI assistance.

The result is a familiar workflow, enhanced by intelligent guidance.

UnicornOne: AI Autonomy

UnicornOne takes a fundamentally different approach.

Rather than assisting an existing control system, UnicornOne is the control system.

Built from the ground up as an AI-native platform, UnicornOne integrates process control, metrology, digital twins, and AI into a single environment. Instead of simply answering questions, it can actively coordinate experiments, monitor multiple data streams simultaneously, and ultimately move towards autonomous process optimisation.

This level of integration provides enormous capability—but it also represents a larger change to existing laboratory workflows.

Different Tools for Different Laboratories

Many laboratories have mature, validated control software that they are not looking to replace.

For these users, Uni provides a practical way to introduce AI without disrupting existing workflows. It complements OEM software, allowing researchers to benefit from AI-assisted recipe generation, data analysis and expert guidance while continuing to use the systems they already know.

Other laboratories may be building new facilities, developing next-generation research platforms, or seeking complete digital integration. For these users, UnicornOne provides an AI-native environment designed from the outset for intelligent automation and, ultimately, scientific autonomy.

Neither approach is universally better.

One enhances existing workflows.

The other redefines them.

Assistance Today. Autonomy Tomorrow.

We see AI assistance and AI autonomy as complementary technologies rather than competing products.

Many laboratories will begin their AI journey with Uni, using it to improve productivity, preserve institutional knowledge and accelerate process development while keeping their existing software.

As confidence grows and workflows evolve, those same laboratories can adopt deeper integration through UnicornOne without changing the underlying AI philosophy.

Our vision is simple:

Use AI where it provides immediate value today, while building the foundations for the autonomous laboratories of tomorrow.