Researchers have successfully used artificial intelligence to design entirely new viruses. These laboratory-tested viruses function as intended and do not exist in nature. This breakthrough could accelerate treatments for bacterial infections and advance biological engineering. However, experts warn that stronger safeguards are urgently needed for this technology. The development highlights AI's growing capabilities and potential risks.

Scientists are worried about how smart DNA-trained artificial intelligence models could get—and that they could become a weapon in biological warfare.

Researchers say breakthrough offers hope for new medicines but also raises urgent biosecurity questions

The AI system makes genetically distant versions of a bacteria-killing virus.

The results have inspired equal parts hope and terror about the future of AI-inflected biology

New York Times: Scientists trained an AI model called Evo using libraries of DNA.