#AI#GenerativeAI#BioTech#BioSecurity#BioWeapons: "Researchers at MIT recently conducted an experiment. They asked undergraduate students to test whether AI-driven chatbots could be prompted to assist non-experts in causing a pandemic. Within an hour the chatbots had suggested four potential pandemic pathogens, explained how they could be created from synthetic DNA using reverse genetics, and supplied the names of DNA synthesis companies judged unlikely to screen orders.
Developing bioweapons is not that easy, and chatbot instructions currently only go so far, but the experiment shows what can happen when AI technology barrels through scientific knowledge. The troubling fact is that large language models and new biological design tools are dramatically lowering the barriers to engineering the next pandemic. The former Google CEO Eric Schmidt describes AI-designed bioweapons as “a very near-term concern”."
An excellent article about the #EU European Commission's #GMO#deregulation proposal, by the journalist, former #MEP, and expert on GMOs Benedikt Haerlin
In a nutshell--based on one of the best articles I've read in weeks:
@EU_Commission makes patronizing #GMO legislation proposal, signifying a paradigm shift that resembles #Russian roulette in #genetics of edible plants. #Crisperisation will permit non-labelelling of GMOs.
#BioTech#AI#BigPharma: "Insilico is one of a new generation of biotechs, which have collectively raised billions of dollars to develop AI tools aimed at revolutionising drug development. It is part of a race by Big Pharma and investors to capitalise on a $50bn market opportunity for AI in the sector, according to a report by Morgan Stanley(opens a new window).
Zhavoronkov said Insilico’s AI platforms could potentially halve the time it took to discover drugs and slash the cost of bringing medicines to market — estimated by Deloitte(opens a new window) at $2.3bn on average per therapy. Sanofi, Fosun and Johnson & Johnson were among several pharma companies that had signed partnership deals that provided access to Insilico’s technology, he said.
AI platforms can crunch vast amounts of data to rapidly identify drug targets — proteins in the body associated with particular diseases — and molecules that can be made into medicines."
Biotech-Konzern Evotec: Pocken- und Pestforschung fürs Pentagon
Der Hamburger Biotech-Konzern Evotec soll für das Pentagon Prototypen für ein Medikament gegen Pockenviren entwickeln. Es ist nicht der erste Auftrag des US-Verteidigungsministeriums: Der letzte drehte sich um die Pest.
A breathtaking scientific revolution is taking place – biotechnology has been progressing at stunning speed, giving us the tools to eventually gain control over biology. On the one hand solving the deadliest diseases while also creating viruses more dangerous than nuclear bombs, able to devastate humanity.
I'm not sure if I posted this before (or if I even read it all when I bookmarked it) but I just took a few minutes to go through it carefully (it's LONG) but it's good. I know a lot of people are burned out by the AI crap (I pretty much am) but this really gives a good rundown on the history, the sci-fi and the future. Man, these dudes seriously wanna live forever (but WHY? Have they ever seen a vampire movie??) Anyway. It's a great long read if you have time.
One executive bought shares in a corporate partner just before a sale, and an investor traded options right before a company’s revenues took off, netting millions.
Jurassic Park, the masterpiece of horror science fiction from Steven Spielberg and Michael Crichton, just celebrated its 30th birthday and it’s time for us to revisit the grand dream and overwhelming hubris of one John Hammond.
"It’s increasingly looking like this may be one of the most hilariously inappropriate applications of AI that we’ve seen yet." I am riveted by the extensive documentation of how ChatGPT-powered Bing is now completely unhinged. @simon has chronicled it beautifully here: https://simonwillison.net/2023/Feb/15/bing/
"...#Drug companies cannot sell people new medicines without first subjecting their products to rigorous safety checks. #Biotech labs cannot release new #viruses into the public sphere in order to impress shareholders with their wizardry. Likewise, A.I. systems with the power of GPT-4 and beyond should not be entangled with the lives of billions of people at a pace faster than cultures can safely absorb them."
The Most Dangerous Weapon is NOT Nuclear (www.youtube.com)
A breathtaking scientific revolution is taking place – biotechnology has been progressing at stunning speed, giving us the tools to eventually gain control over biology. On the one hand solving the deadliest diseases while also creating viruses more dangerous than nuclear bombs, able to devastate humanity.
How Close Are We to Cloned Dinosaurs? The Science Behind Jurassic Park - Short answer: We aren't (www.syfy.com)
Jurassic Park, the masterpiece of horror science fiction from Steven Spielberg and Michael Crichton, just celebrated its 30th birthday and it’s time for us to revisit the grand dream and overwhelming hubris of one John Hammond.