AI-designed viruses are here and already killing bacteria

Can AI create a life form? These "generative" genomes are a start Artificial intelligence can draw cat pictures and write emails. A research team in California says it used AI to propose new genetic codes for viruses--and managed to get several of these viruses to replicate and kill bacteria. The scientists, based at Stanford University and the nonprofit Arc Institute, both in Palo Alto, say the germs with AI-written DNA represent the "the first generative design of complete genomes." The work, described in a preprint paper, has the potential to create new treatments and accelerate research into artificially engineered cells. It is also an "impressive first step" toward AI-designed life forms, says Jef Boeke, a biologist at NYU Langone Health, who was provided an advance copy of the paper by .