Scientists used AI to build 16 new viruses, raising fears of AI-designed bioweapons

Scientists have used AI to design the first complete viral genomes, creating 16 working bacteriophages that kill E. coli. Published in Science, the study used genome language models Evo 1 and Evo 2 to write DNA from scratch. The AI-designed viruses beat antibiotic-resistant bacteria, but experts warn biosecurity governance for generative genome design does not yet exist.