Dear reader,

Ok, so maybe the headline was a bit too much, but today marks an interesting turning point for Biodesign Academy.

Biodesign Academy started by shaping the conversation around biodesign. Now we’re shaping the tools. The launch of our first Co-Pilot marks the beginning of a new phase: AI-powered software built for educators, students, and practitioners.

Not a CustomGPT. Not a prompt library. Actual software, designed to support biodesign workflows with speed, rigor, and clarity.

Release 1: Biodesign Co-Pilot: Ideation

The first Co-Pilot tackles the hardest part of any project: turning vague curiosity into a structured, testable idea.

With just three inputs: 1) a biological system, 2) a property, and 3) an application domain, it generates a project brief complete with:

• A clear concept hook

• Mechanisms & precedents to explore

• Safety & ethics notes, classroom-ready

• A practical bill of materials

• Timeboxed methods you can follow

• Evaluation criteria for outcomes

• Variants for low-resource classrooms

• Further reading prompts

This is a guided, structured assistant that turns possibility into action.

Co-Pilot: Ideation in Action

Here’s the Output

To show you what the Co-Pilot can do, we ran it with the following inputs:

• Biological System: Algae

• Target Property: Biodegradability

• Application Domain: Fashion

• Audience: Beginner design students

• Constraints: BSL-1 only, <$100 budget, 2-week build

The result? A structured, workshop-ready project brief that can be used in classrooms, prototyping sessions, or early-stage research. See result summary PDF here.

Mini Guide: Trying the Co-Pilot Yourself

You can try Co-Pilot: Ideation today [Link here] by bringing your own OpenAI API key.

I know this is a bit of a pain, but once you have the key it is straightforward to use.

Here’s how:

1. What’s an API key?
   It’s like a personal password that lets software (like this Co-Pilot) talk to OpenAI’s models. Each key is linked to your OpenAI account and usage.

2. How do I get one?

• Go to https://platform.openai.com/account/api-keys.

• Log in or sign up.

• Click Create new secret key.

• Copy the key (it starts with sk-...).

3. Paste it into the Co-Pilot.
   Your key is stored locally in your browser — it isn’t sent to us. You control it, and you pay only for your usage (a few dollars’ credit lasts a long time with lightweight models).

4. Try it out.
   Pick your biology, property, and domain → hit Generate → get a structured project brief.

⚠️ Important: Don’t share your API key publicly. Treat it like a password.

No API Key? No Problem.

If you don’t want to set up an API key, you don’t have to. From next week, Biodesign Academy Foundational Tier members get access to a hosted version of the Co-Pilot with no setup required.

👉 [Join Biodesign Academy Foundational Tier Membership]

What’s Next

Co-Pilot: Ideation is just the beginning. We’re already developing:

• Co-Pilot: Publication — simplify making your work citable.

• Co-Pilot: Safety — instant safety briefs for organisms and materials.

• Co-Pilot: Materials — map biology to practical applications.

• Co-Pilot: Teacher — lesson plans, rubrics, and assessments auto-generated from your projects.

Over time, the Co-Pilot Series will cover the entire biodesign workflow.

This is a big step forward for Biodesign Academy. We’ll continue to provide toolkits, prompt libraries, and CustomGPTs — but Co-Pilots are something else entirely. They are software products, not just resources.

Anyone can spin up a CustomGPT. Very few are building purpose-built AI assistants for biodesign education. This is the first of its kind — and it’s only the start.

Until next time,

Raphael, Biodesign Academy

❓ FAQ: Biodesign Co-Pilot: Ideation

What is Biodesign Co-Pilot: Ideation?
Biodesign Co-Pilot: Ideation is an AI-powered web app that generates structured biodesign project briefs. It turns user inputs (biology, property, application domain, audience) into a ready-to-use concept with methods, safety notes, and references.

How is Biodesign Co-Pilot different from a CustomGPT?
Unlike a CustomGPT or prompt library, the Co-Pilot is a dedicated software product with structured outputs designed for education and prototyping. It’s built specifically for biodesign workflows.

Who can use Biodesign Co-Pilot?

• Beginner and advanced design students

• Educators creating lesson plans and workshops

• Bioengineering students and HCI researchers

• Startups prototyping biodesign projects

What output does Biodesign Co-Pilot create?
The Co-Pilot generates:

• Concept and rationale

• Safety and ethics guidance

• Bill of materials

• Step-by-step methods

• Evaluation criteria

• Low-cost classroom variants

• Further reading references

Do I need an OpenAI API key to use Co-Pilot?
No — there are two ways to use it:

1. Bring Your Own API Key (connect your own OpenAI account).

2. Biodesign Academy Membership (hosted access, no setup required).

How do I get an OpenAI API key?
Go to platform.openai.com/account/api-keys, log in, and create a new key. Copy it immediately and paste it into the Co-Pilot. Keys are reusable, and usage credits determine costs.

What are the next Co-Pilots coming after Ideation?

• Co-Pilot: Publication – create metadata and submission packs

• Co-Pilot: Safety – generate classroom biosafety briefs

• Co-Pilot: Materials – connect biological inputs to applications

• Co-Pilot: Teacher – auto-generate lesson plans and rubrics

How do I access Biodesign Co-Pilot: Ideation?
Sign up for Biodesign Academy Membership for immediate access to Co-Pilot: Ideation and all future Co-Pilot tools.

Why is this launch important for Biodesign Academy?
This is Biodesign Academy’s first AI software product. It marks a move beyond newsletters and toolkits into building practical, purpose-built AI assistants for biodesign education and practice.