AI and the Biological Threat: An Urgent Call for Regulation

A Unified Call for Biological Security

Major figures in the artificial intelligence industry, often at odds, have come together to express a common concern: the potential for their technology to be misused in the creation of biological weapons. In an open letter addressed to U.S. lawmakers, tech leaders urge Congress to take measures to close a critical biosecurity gap that could trigger a global pandemic.

Among the signatories of this letter are Dario Amodei of Anthropic, Sam Altman of OpenAI, and Mustafa Suleyman of Microsoft. They call for companies selling synthetic DNA and RNA—genetic materials that can be ordered online and assembled in laboratories—to be required to screen purchases for sequences that could be used to create dangerous pathogens. The concern is that AI tools could facilitate the design of potentially harmful sequences, their ordering from manufacturers, and their use, which previously required specialized expertise.

A Rare Consensus Among Experts

The letter was also signed by Alexandr Wang of Meta and Demis Hassabis of Google DeepMind, who was recently awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on AI-driven protein prediction. Prominent scientists, national security and policy experts, as well as leaders from biotechnology companies such as Twist Bioscience and Ansa Biotechnologies, major sellers of synthetic genetic material, have also added their signatures. The letter was orchestrated by two think tanks: the Foundation for American Innovation and the Institute for Progress.

Scientists have long warned about the potential dangers of synthetic biology, which could enable the engineering of dangerous organisms or even the resurrection of extinct pathogens. Until now, this power has primarily been in the hands of qualified scientists with sophisticated laboratories. However, with decreasing costs and increasing accessibility of biological tools, along with improved AI models, the barriers to abuse are beginning to crumble. Experts also warn that AI could facilitate the production of other threats, such as chemical weapons.

Towards Mandatory Regulation

Although the letter acknowledges that many major suppliers of synthetic DNA and RNA already conduct order screenings, this is done on a voluntary basis, not a mandatory one. The letter also advocates for the maintenance of detailed records of all orders to track any threats that may have slipped past initial screening.

“Given the rapid pace at which the underlying technology is evolving, we believe the need is urgent,” the letter states. “This is a rare moment of agreement among stakeholders who often disagree. We hope policymakers will respond with decisive action.”