News · 7 August 2026
AI creates new viruses for first time, raising biosecurity fears
Unsplash / Fusion Medical Animation
US researchers used AI to generate thousands of virus genomes from a natural template, then chemically made 16 "viable" viruses. In laboratory tests, these synthetic viruses demonstrated a greater capacity for eliminating E. coli bacteria compared to their natural counterparts. Experts say this could help fight antibiotic-resistant infections but also poses a serious biosecurity risk, with calls for stronger oversight.
Reported by Al Jazeera · How we write briefs