By Earth.com
Publication Date: 2026-01-05 21:25:00
Scientists have now used artificial intelligence, computer systems that learn patterns from data, to write entire viral genomes from scratch in the laboratory.
In parallel, a study conducted by Microsoft showed that AI tools can reengineer known toxins to evade the usual safety checks of DNA synthesis.
These AI-created viruses are bacteriophages, viruses that infect bacteria rather than humans, making them useful test cases but also graphic warnings.
Why experts are afraid of AI viruses
The work, which uncovers how AI-designed proteins can pass genetic safety checks, was led by Bruce J. Wittmann of Microsoft Research.
He works as a senior applied scientist focusing on tools that make DNA screening more reliable for laboratories and synthesis companies.
These projects rely on genome language models, AI tools that guess plausible stretches of DNA in a sequence.
Once trained with thousands of sequences, these models can propose entirely new genomes that still resemble natural virus families.
This creative reach…
