Scientists use AI to create viruses not found in nature with medicinal potential

Researchers at Stanford University used artificial intelligence to create 16 functional viruses not found in nature earlier this month.Some may feel as though they are at the start of a dystopian film, wondering why scientists would meddle with something as dangerous as new deadly viruses. However, these scientists have good reason, and while the viruses may be deadly to their intended targets, they have the potential to be life-saving for humans around the world.The viruses created in the Stanford Lab are bacteriophages, and as the name suggests, these are viruses that exclusively target bacteria. As antibiotic resistance rises worldwide, chemical engineer Brian Hie and Samuel King began studying a potential solution involving the bacteriophage ΦX174 (pronounced “FYE-ex-1-7-4”), which targets E. Coli bacteria.Antibiotic-resistant E. Coli found to pose threat to Israeli societyResearchers in Israel raised the alarm about antibiotic-resistant E. Coli bacteria in the past.