Stanford researchers use AI to generate synthetic viruses, opening new avenues for drug discovery but raising biosecurity concerns

Researchers at Stanford University have utilized an AI model called Evo 2 to generate synthetic viruses that do not exist in nature. This groundbreaking work could revolutionize drug discovery and the development of new antimicrobial treatments, particularly engineered bacteriophages that could function as novel antibiotics. However, the ability of AI to create biologically capable models also sparks urgent discussions regarding potential biosecurity risks.