Kathmandu— US researchers at Stanford University and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard have announced the creation of 16 new viruses using artificial intelligence (AI), marking a scientific first. The study, published in the journal Science, details how AI was used to generate thousands of virus genomes from a naturally occurring phage template. In laboratory tests, these synthetic viruses proved more effective at killing E coli bacteria than their natural counterparts.

Potential Medical Advances

The research opens new avenues for medical treatments, particularly in the fight against antibiotic-resistant infections. Isaac Bogoch, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Toronto and Toronto General Hospital, highlighted the potential benefits: “AI-designed viruses could have some potential benefits, such as the creation of targeted bacteriophages that could possibly help us tackle antibiotic-resistant infections in new ways.”

Biosecurity Concerns

However, the study also raises significant biosecurity concerns. Bogoch noted that “the same ability to design whole, functional viruses could easily become a serious biosecurity risk if applied to harmful pathogens.” Fatemeh Vafaee, a professor at UNSW School of Biotechnology & Biomolecular Sciences in Sydney, emphasized the need for stronger oversight: “AI can now do this at all,” she said, calling for forward-looking precautions rather than reactive measures.

Current Limitations and Future Outlook

Despite the breakthrough, experts like Tom Ellis from Imperial College London pointed out that AI remains far from being able to create more complex genomes. “This phage genome is literally the smallest, easy genome to design and make,” he said. Hsu Li Yang, director of the Asia Centre for Health Security in Singapore, added that while it was conceivable that AI could be used to make viruses more deadly, the implications should not be overstated.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.