Richard Melange

Could one scientist armed with AI kill a billion people?

Dr Richard Moulange, Rob Wiblin, Richard Melange

Researchers have demonstrated that AI can engineer novel bacteriophages superior to natural equivalents and circumvent gene synthesis screening to create dangerous agents, effectively dismantling the belief that tacit biological knowledge remains a safe barrier. This capability presents the highest risk to mid-tier actors, such as PhD-level experts, by lowering the threshold for developing autonomous biological threats that could bypass current detection systems and immune responses. Defending against this evolving threat requires accelerating AI-driven biosurveillance, strengthening mandatory gene synthesis screening, and implementing managed access protocols to ensure defensive technologies outpace malicious innovation.