BBC
Artificial Intelligence used to design brand new viruses
Thursday, August 6, 2026
Researchers used artificial intelligence to design the genetic sequences of 16 viruses that were then synthesized and confirmed to be infectious in laboratory conditions. The study demonstrated that AI can generate novel viral genomes, though the researchers did not identify which specific viruses were created or their intended research applications. The work was conducted at an academic institution and published in a peer-reviewed venue.
Original reporting: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y3j3ngevmo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
