AI leaders urge Congress to regulate synthetic DNA to prevent bioweapons

A coalition of top artificial intelligence executives and national security experts has formally requested that the U.S. Congress enact legislation to safeguard against AI-enhanced biological threats. The group is specifically calling for mandatory oversight of synthetic DNA and RNA orders, essential components for developing vaccines and biotechnologies.

In an open letter, leaders from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind highlighted the accelerating pace of AI development. They expressed concern that as AI systems rapidly improve, the knowledge barriers that historically prevented malicious actors from creating biological weapons could significantly erode. The signatories warn that current AI models can already outperform human virologists in complex laboratory questions, potentially providing "criminal tools to unleash new pathogens."

“

AI systems are rapidly improving and, along with incredible benefits to science and medicine, there is a real possibility that the knowledge barriers that historically have prevented malicious actors from obtaining biological weapons will be significantly eroded.

The initiative aims to compel nucleic acid providers to screen customer orders for dangerous genetic sequences and to verify the identity of purchasers, maintaining transaction records. Executives from Microsoft AI and Scale AI are among the signatories, emphasizing that AI's rapid advancement is a "game-changer." The letter follows recent U.S. government actions, including an executive order on AI cybersecurity and oversight, and discussions between OpenAI's CEO and White House officials regarding biological risk prevention.

“

criminal tools to unleash new pathogens