AI Uncovers Biological “Zero-Day” Threats in DNA Screening Systems
AI and the Biological Zero-Day: A New Frontier of Risk In a startling development published in Science, a Microsoft research team has shown that artificial intelligence (AI) can identify previously unknown vulnerabilities in DNA screening systems—what they call a “zero-day” threat in biology. These systems are meant to block orders for dangerous genetic sequences that could lead to toxins or pathogens. But by using generative AI tools, the researchers discovered a pathway to slip malicious sequences past those defenses while retaining harmful functionality. This work underscores the tense intersection of AI and biotechnology. As generative models become more powerful and … Read more
