tech
New AI-generated viruses spark biosafety fears
New technology to create synthetic viruses that do not exist in nature with artificial intelligence is scaring biosafety experts, who worry that the process could spark the next global pandemic.
TL;DR
- AI can now be used to create synthetic viruses not found in nature.
- Scientists at Stanford University published research on this new AI capability in the journal Science.
- The AI was trained to recognize DNA patterns and grow novel viruses.
- These synthetic viruses were shown to be viable by infecting bacterial cells.
- Biosafety experts are concerned this technology could lead to the next global pandemic.