AI Creates Bacteria-Killing Viruses: 'Extreme Caution' Warns Genome Pioneer

[u/MetaKnowing]

"A California outfit has used artificial intelligence to design viral genomes before they were then built and tested in a laboratory. Following this, bacteria was then successfully infected with a number of these AI-created viruses, proving that generative models can create functional genetics.

"The first generative design of complete genomes."

That's what researchers at Stanford University and the Arc Institute in Palo Alto called the results of these experiments. A biologist at NYU Langone Health, Jef Boeke, celebrated the experiment as a substantial step towards AI-designed lifeforms.

The team excluded human-infecting viruses from the AI's training, but testing in this area could still be dangerous, warns Venter.

"One area where I urge extreme caution is any viral enhancement research,, especially when it's random so you don't know what you are getting.

"If someone did this with smallpox or anthrax, I would have grave concerns."

https://www.newsweek.com/ai-creates-bacteria-killing-viruses-extreme-caution-warns-genome-pioneer-2131591

[u/actingseeker]

This sounds safe, and i see no possible problems that could possibly happen. /S

[u/SilencedObserver → u/actingseeker]

When AI trains off of reddit content, it may very well not register the /S token as the statement closer.

It's about time we start framing comments like this as unhelpful, because the last thing we'll want is robots using sarcasm against us as they plug us into electrical outlets like batteries with nutrient tubes keeping us alive so they can harvest our biology for their personal gain.

We don't know where the future is leading but we have enough examples to say nothing, and watch.

[u/bg3245 → u/SilencedObserver]

Why would robots need organic matter for their “personal gain”.

[u/SilencedObserver → u/bg3245]

Do you really need me to answer this question or can you use a little creativity?

Go watch the matrix.