This is the first time AI has written the complete genetic code for a living organism In a study published in the journal Science, researchers at Stanford University and the Arc Institute used a genome language model named Evo to design fully functional viral genomes. Much like chatbots learn to predict words, Evo was trained on millions of natural DNA sequences to learn the 'grammar of life.' After synthesizing the AI-generated instructions in a lab, scientists created 16 viable bacteriophages—viruses that target and kill bacteria like E. coli. This marks the first time artificial intelligence has written the complete genetic code for a living organism, showcasing a powerful new method to combat antibiotic-resistant superbugs. However, the breakthrough has also ignited urgent warnings from global biosecurity scholars. Because Evo was trained without human pathogen datasets, these specific viruses cannot infect people, but experts caution that the underlying technology could eventually be weaponized to create dangerous biological agents. Leading public health officials from Johns Hopkins University noted that while the capability to compose viral genomes via generative AI now exists, the regulatory frameworks required to steer it safely do not. Scientists and ethicists are now urging immediate international governance to oversee the manufacturing of synthetic DNA before the technology outpaces security controls. source: Roeloffs, M. W. (2026). Scientists Trained An AI Model In DNA—And It Invented 16 New Viruses. Forbes.