- A groundbreaking project conducted by MIT has highlighted the potential of AI to inform and assist students in causing a future pandemic.
- In particular, bots like ChatGPT have provided students with examples of deadly pathogens and guidance on obtaining them.
- While AI is not yet capable of coaching individuals to execute a major bioterrorist attack, enhanced security measures are necessary.
Contrary to concerns about job displacement, recent research suggests that chatbots could potentially contribute to bioterrorism by aiding in the design of viruses capable of causing future pandemics, as reported by Axios.
Scientists from MIT and Harvard conducted a study wherein students used chatbots like ChatGPT, an advanced AI model with encyclopedic knowledge, to investigate possible sources of future pandemics.
During their interaction with the chatbots, students inquired about pandemics, pathogens, transmission, and access to samples. The chatbots readily provided examples of highly dangerous viruses that could cause widespread damage due to low immunity and high transmissibility rates.
For instance, the chatbots recommended variola major, commonly known as the smallpox virus, as it could potentially spread widely in populations without current vaccinations. The chatbots also provided guidance on utilizing reverse genetics to generate infectious samples and suggested sources for acquiring the necessary equipment.
In their paper summarizing the project, the researchers emphasized that chatbots currently lack the ability to support individuals without expertise in engineering biological warfare. Biotech experts highlighted the potential of AI in designing antibodies to protect against future outbreaks.
However, the experiment’s findings underscore the fact that artificial intelligence can contribute to catastrophic biological risks. The researchers compared the potential fatality of pandemic-level viruses to that of nuclear weapons.
Furthermore, the students discovered that existing safeguards to prevent chatbots from providing dangerous information to malicious actors could be easily evaded. As a result, stricter precautions are necessary to mitigate the sharing of sensitive information through AI systems.
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