AI-created viruses could help beat antibiotic resistance, study finds
Researchers have used an AI model to design 16 viable new viruses that target bacteria, potentially offering a new tool to combat antibiotic resistance. While the breakthrough is promising for medicine, experts warn that it highlights the urgent need for better biosecurity governance.
Why it matters
This development demonstrates the dual-use nature of generative AI, showing both its potential to solve critical health crises and its capacity to create biological risks.
shares Share article Artificial intelligence has created 16 entirely new viruses in a breakthrough researchers say could one day help tackle antibiotic-resistant infections.
It’s been hailed as a hopeful step forward in medicine , but experts say it also raises concerns around the potential for misuse.
Artificial intelligence has created 16 entirely new viruses in a breakthrough researchers say could one day help tackle antibiotic-resistant infections. BSIP/Universal Images Group via
Scientists from Stanford University and the Arc Institute trained an AI model called Evo – similar to ChatGPT – using genetic information from millions of living organisms.
They then asked it to design thousands of new viral genomes capable of infecting E. coli bacteria.
Researchers built and tested about 300 of those designs in the laboratory, with 16 proving viable as viruses.
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