Maria CuriAdd Axios as your preferred source tosee more of our stories on Google.Illustration: Sarah Grillo/AxiosOpenAI is launching a tool to help develop new biodefense and pandemic preparedness capabilities, according to an announcement shared first with Axios. Why it matters: AI has massive implications for biosecurity, including the creation of biological weapons. Driving the news: OpenAI's new Rosalind Biodefense Program will offer its GPT-Rosalind model for life sciences research to "trusted developers" operationalizing biodefense tools.The company will sponsor access to the tool and provide launch support for epidemiological modeling, early detection, screening, preparedness, non-pharmaceutical interventions and other public-health work.OpenAI is supporting organizations that it says span the life cycle of biological threats "from prevention and early detection to societal resilience and medical countermeasure development."What's next: OpenAI said it briefed the White House and several federal agencies on its approach, and is in the process of involving public-health-focused federal agencies.The company is also expanding access to GPT-Rosalind for select U.S. government and allied partners to support public health and biodefense missions.