A team of California researchers has crossed a chilling new line in biological experimentation, using artificial intelligence to design and replicate viruses in the lab.
Scientists at Stanford University and the nonprofit Arc Institute in Palo Alto admit they successfully created artificial genomes for bacteriophages.
Bacteriophages are described as viruses that infect and kill bacteria.
The team chemically printed hundreds of AI-proposed DNA codes, mixed them with E. coli, and watched in shock as new, computer-generated viruses came alive and destroyed the bacteria.
It was the first time AI has been used to design complete viral genomes that could replicate on their own.
“This was a pretty striking, just actually seeing, like, this AI-generated sphere,” said Brian Hie, head of the Arc Institute lab.
Of the 302 synthetic designs, 16 successfully booted up as functioning viruses.
While researchers touted the achievement as a breakthrough in biology, critics warn that the project has opened a Pandora’s box.
It comes amid growing calls from global health authorities to prepare for the so-called “Disease X.”
What begins with phages and bacteria today could easily escalate to far deadlier experiments tomorrow.
J. Craig Venter, a pioneer in synthetic biology, bluntly warned:
“If someone did this