On May 24, 2026, the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in a collaborative effort with the Shenyang Institute of Automation, successfully developed the world's pioneering intelligent transmission electron microscope system, christened "Primitive Eye No. 1." This groundbreaking system has successfully navigated the scientific and technological achievements appraisal. It has triumphed over five pivotal technological hurdles, notably incorporating embodied intelligence for high-vacuum sample transfer. This innovation facilitates a completely unmanned and intelligent operation across the entire workflow, from "sample transfer to imaging and analysis."

Take the microscopic structure analysis of catalysts as an illustrative example. The system is capable of analyzing an average of 168 samples daily, amassing over 4,000 images in the process. In comparison to manual analysis, it elevates image analysis efficiency by an impressive margin of over 300 times. Furthermore, the data volume generated within a mere two-week span is equivalent to the annual workload of traditional equipment, underscoring its transformative potential.