Safety fears as scientists make first viruses designed by AI

Researchers at Stanford University used AI genome language models Evo1 and Evo2 to design bacteriophage viruses that can kill antibiotic-resistant E. coli in lab tests, marking the first AI-designed viruses. While this breakthrough could advance phage therapy and biotechnology, experts warn of significant biosafety and biosecurity risks, urging strict oversight as AI enables rapid viral genome design.