- Researchers from Stanford University and the Arc Institute have successfully used artificial intelligence to identify and create functioning viruses not found in nature.
- The AI model, Evo, was trained on genetic sequences from various organisms, generating 700,000 potential viruses, with 16 proving viable when inserted into bacteria.
- This breakthrough offers promise for developing new medications to combat drug-resistant bacteria, such as E. coli, tuberculosis, and MRSA, by creating diverse viral cocktails.
- Experts from Johns Hopkins University and others have raised urgent biosafety and biosecurity concerns, highlighting the lack of adequate governance for these rapidly advancing AI technologies.
- While acknowledging the risks, some experts argue that existing pathogens and gain-of-function research pose a more immediate and significant threat than viruses designed entirely by AI.
IN FULL
