Samuel King: An AI Proposes Virus Plans in 2025
An interview recorded on October 16, 2026, features AI journalist James O'Donnell and Samuel King, a PhD student at Stanford and the Arc Institute. They revisit an experiment conducted in 2025 where a generative AI proposed genetic blueprints for microscopic viruses. This outcome does not equate to life created by AI, but it is presented as a potential step forward.
A recorded exchange on October 16, 2026, with two identified participants
The interview was recorded on Friday, October 16, 2026. It features James O'Donnell, a senior journalist specializing in AI, and Samuel King. The discussion focuses on King's work, his ranking among the MIT Technology Review's Innovators Under 35, and his perspectives on biology.
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In 2025, a generative AI proposes plans for microscopic viruses
In 2025, Samuel King, a PhD student in bioengineering at Stanford University and affiliated with the Arc Institute, utilized a generative AI model. The tool was used to suggest genetic blueprints for microscopic viruses.
No AI-generated life at this stage, just a potential step
This work does not yet constitute an example of AI-generated life. It is presented as a possible next step toward designing new forms of life with AI. The public conversation proposed with Samuel King places these elements in their context.
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