Scientists Used AI to Create 16 New Viruses
The use of AI systems to create viruses opens up new possibilities for combating bacterial resistance. It also raises concerns about the pace at which technology is outstripping regulation.
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Scientists at Stanford University and the Arc Institute used artificial intelligence to design 16 previously unknown viruses capable of infecting bacteria, marking the first time AI has created entirely new functional viruses rather than replicating known ones. The viruses, specifically bacteriophages that infect only bacteria, show potential for combating bacterial resistance and could offer an alternative to antibiotics. However, the breakthrough raises significant security concerns, as experts warn that there are currently no effective safeguards to prevent AI from being used to create lethal viruses, and that technology is advancing much faster than regulatory frameworks can keep pace.
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