Samuel King, a bioengineering PhD candidate at Stanford University, used a generative artificial intelligence model in 2025 to propose genetic blueprints for microscopic viruses. The project did not demonstrate AI-created life, but it raised the possibility and highlighted associated risks.
What King did and when he discussed it
King’s 2025 experiments showed that a generative AI can be used to design candidate genetic sequences for viruses. Senior AI reporter James O’Donnell interviewed King about this work in a recorded session on October 16, 2026. The interview was made available for listening or viewing.
Why the work matters
The project is important for two main reasons:
- Scientific implications: AI may offer new tools for modeling and understanding biological systems, potentially aiding research areas such as gene editing and virology.
- Security and ethics: easier access to AI-assisted genome design could lower technical barriers and raise biosafety and bioethical concerns that require attention from researchers, institutions, and regulators.
Recognition and broader context
Samuel King was named to the MIT Technology Review’s Innovators Under 35 list, reflecting attention from the scientific and technology communities. In the interview, King and O’Donnell discussed new ways AI can provide insight into biological problems and emphasized the need for responsible research practices and appropriate oversight.
Related material
Alongside the recorded interview, related articles and reports have appeared addressing AI-designed viruses and the ethical and safety questions they prompt.
Summary
In 2025 Samuel King used a generative AI to propose virus genomes; the work stopped short of creating AI-generated life but underscored both the potential scientific uses of AI in biology and the biosecurity and ethical issues that follow. The conversation between King and James O’Donnell was recorded on October 16, 2026 and is available for listening or viewing.
