AI Designs 16 Functional Viruses From Scratch, Sparking Bioweapon Concerns

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Researchers have used artificial intelligence to create 16 fully functional bacteriophages — viruses that target and kill E. coli bacteria — marking the first time complete viral genomes have been designed by AI. The study, published in the journal Science, employed genome language models Evo 1 and Evo 2 to generate DNA sequences entirely from scratch. The AI-engineered viruses demonstrated effectiveness against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, highlighting a potential medical application. However, experts are raising alarm over the dual-use risks of this technology, warning that it could be exploited to design biological weapons. Critically, no biosecurity framework currently exists to regulate or govern the use of generative AI in genome design.

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