What happened when AI designed viruses from scratch?

The answer

In a landmark 2025 study, researchers used artificial intelligence to design 302 entirely new virus genomes from scratch. When synthesized in the lab, 16 of these AI-designed viruses actually assembled into functional particles and successfully killed bacteria. These are the first AI-generated living biological entities, representing a new frontier in synthetic biology. The research holds promise for developing novel phage therapies - using engineered viruses to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria, one of the world's most pressing health threats. The WHO estimates that antimicrobial resistance could cause 10 million deaths per year by 2050 without new solutions.