Scientists have reportedly used artificial intelligence to design entirely new viruses. According to a newly published research paper, the inclusion of the AI tools could transform medical research while raising important safety questions. The researchers trained an AI model in a controlled environment to generate original DNA sequences by analysing the genetic patterns of naturally occurring viruses, rather than copying known DNA sequences. With the new AI-designed sequences that were generated in the lab, the scientists formed new viruses that can infect bacteria. Here’s everything we know about the new virus made by AI and what scientists think about it.
According to a recently published research paper cited by the New York Times, researchers at Stanford University and the Arc Institute in California carried out a study where they trained AI models called Evo 1 and Evo 2 to study patterns in the DNA of viruses found in nature. Instead of copying existing viruses, the models generated fresh genetic designs based on what they had learned.
Following that the scientists created the DNA sequences in the lab and put them into bacteria. The bacteria created viruses that were entirely new. The new viruses could infect other bacteria, showing the AI-designed genetic instructions were successful.
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Researchers think the discovery could lead to a better understanding of viruses and speed up the development of new medicines and vaccinations. It’s not as if scientists haven’t made viruses from scratch before. But in the past, they’ve largely recreated viruses that already exist out in nature.
Experts also say artificial intelligence can let scientists explore new experiments with genetics that have never been done before. This could result in fresh findings that would have been far more difficult to discover with conventional research approaches.
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The viruses created in the study are based on Phi X-174, a virus that infects only bacteria and cannot harm humans. Even so, experts say the research shows how quickly AI is advancing in biology.
Some scientists have warned that similar technology could one day be used to create dangerous pathogens if proper safeguards are not introduced. They argue that governments and scientific organisations need stronger rules to ensure AI is used responsibly.