Safety fears as scientists make first viruses designed by AI

Scientists have developed the first viruses designed by artificial intelligence, marking a significant milestone. These synthetic viruses are bacteriophages, which specifically target bacteria to treat persistent infections. In laboratory tests, an AI-designed cocktail successfully eliminated E coli bugs that resisted natural bacteriophages. While this genomic language model offers immense potential for redesigning organisms and creating new medicines, the breakthrough has simultaneously raised urgent biosecurity questions regarding how to ensure the technology remains safe for global use.