Share to ClassroomScientists Use AI to Design Viruses
Scientists in the United States used AI to design new viruses. AI means artificial intelligence. The viruses are called phages, and they attack only bacteria. This makes them safe for people. The computer made thousands of designs, and the scientists built about 300 of them. Only 16 of them worked well. These 16 killed two kinds of bacteria called E. coli.
The AI tools are like chatbot programs, but they write genetic code instead of words. The team did not use viruses that make people sick. All of the work happened in a safe laboratory.
Doctors already use phages to treat some infections. This is useful because many bacteria now resist medicine. But other experts are worried that AI could one day design dangerous viruses. They say the world needs new rules.
