Pipettes to Prompts Pt. 5: Excel Is Forever — The Problem That Sparked Cypher AI

This is an excerpt from Pipettes to Prompts — From Pipettes to Prompts: Reprogramming Science with AI (Part 5/6).

After years inside Ginkgo Bioworks, Yaoyu recognized a universal truth: scientists still live in Excel Hell. In this episode, he breaks down why even the most sophisticated lab systems can’t replace spreadsheets — and how that frustration inspired the founding of Cypher AI.

Tune in for insights on:

• Why scientists cling to Excel despite better tools

• The real-world pain points of lab software

• How flexibility and creativity drive scientific innovation

You can connect with our host, René Bastón, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renebaston/

And our guest, Yaoyu Yang, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yaoyuyang/

For more information on any of the topics discussed, visit the Hill Research Podcast at: https://www.hillresearch.ai/podcast