Arc Institute researchers create 16 new viable viruses with AI
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Researchers at Arc Institute have used an AI model called Evo to generate 16 new viable bacteriophages—viruses that infect bacteria—none of which exist in nature, according to a study published in Science. The viruses proved effective against E. coli, with some outperforming a natural phage, even as the researchers stress they pose no danger to humans.
The AI Model
Evo was trained on a database of about 9 trillion nucleotides drawn from animal, plant, bacterial, and viral genetic sequences. The model learned to recognize DNA structural patterns, then generated roughly 700,000 potential viral genomes. The training data deliberately excluded viruses that infect humans, animals, plants, and fungi.
Laboratory Results
Scientists synthesized DNA molecules from the AI-generated sequences and introduced them into bacteria. This yielded 16 viable bacteriophages capable of infecting and killing the target bacteria. Several of the new phages outperformed the natural bacteriophage Phi X-174 in eliminating Escherichia coli.
Safety and Ethics
The authors emphasize the viruses infect only bacteria and pose no threat to humans. However, the study has intensified debate over AI-enabled biological risks. Some experts warn that such technologies could eventually be misused to design dangerous pathogens, calling for strict oversight and biosecurity measures.
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