  The preparation of low-entropy starting conditions is a key requirement for
many experiments involving neutral atoms. Here, we propose a method to
autonomously assemble arbitrary spatial configurations of atoms within arrays
of optical tweezers or lattice sites, enabled by a combination of tunneling and
ground-state laser cooling. In contrast to previous methods, our protocol does
not rely on either imaging or evaporative cooling. This circumvents limitations
associated with imaging fidelity and loss, especially in systems with small
spatial scales, while providing a substantial improvement in speed relative to
evaporative approaches. These features may make it well-suited for preparing
arbitrary initial conditions for Bose-Hubbard or Rydberg interacting systems.
