For molecular modelers, repetitive tasks like removing solvent molecules, generating molecular surfaces, or adjusting visual styles are a constant part of the workflow. Traditionally, these actions require navigating through multiple menus in a complex interface. Over time, this can be both tedious and error-prone, especially during intense modeling sessions where your focus should remain on the science—not the software.
What if you could talk to your molecular design software and have it carry out those repetitive steps for you? SAMSON AI, the assistant for the SAMSON molecular design platform, might be the change you’ve been looking for.
Commanding with /do
The /do command in SAMSON AI enables you to execute standard modeling operations simply by typing what you want. There’s no need to dig through layered toolbar menus. Just open the Assistant with Interface > Assistant or the Ctrl+0 (Cmd+0 on Mac) shortcut, and type commands in plain English, preceded by /do.
Examples
/do remove water./do select the ligand and apply a licorice model./do erase all surfaces./do zoom to the binding site./do select the gaussian surface and make it light blue.
These natural commands result in immediate changes within your molecular scene, helping you prototype visuals or prepare systems in fewer clicks.
Enhancing Workflow with Natural Language
Natural language control is especially useful during presentations or collaborative sessions where speed matters. For instance, if a colleague suggests “Can we zoom in on the binding pocket?”, you can type—or even say—/do zoom to the binding site, without hunting for the corresponding function.
This also reduces the learning curve for new SAMSON users. Instead of memorizing where different selectors or visual tools are located, they can express their intent directly and let SAMSON AI translate it into action.
Turning Speech into Action
If you prefer speaking to typing, SAMSON AI supports voice interaction. You can simply say “do” followed by your command, as demonstrated in the short example video below.
Turn your sound on for this one:
How It Works Behind the Scenes
This method of control is an example of retrieval-augmented agency, or RAA. It means that SAMSON AI doesn’t just process natural language—it also understands the context of your scientific modeling environment and knows how to trigger the correct commands behind the scenes. Powered by GPT-5 (in the Professional plan), it has access to SAMSON’s internal capabilities and documentation references, letting it behave more like a reliable lab assistant than a simple chatbot.
Ready to Try It?
Typing /do in the Assistant input field will bring up a dynamic list of available actions, so you can explore what is possible. It’s a simple feature with wide-ranging potential to make molecular design feel lighter and more interactive.
To learn more and explore other commands, visit the full documentation at this page.
SAMSON and all SAMSON Extensions are free for non-commercial use. You can download SAMSON from https://www.samson-connect.net.