AI CEOs Urge Congress to Mandate DNA Screening as $100,000 Horsepox Case Shows Risk
Updated
Updated · WIRED · Jun 4
AI CEOs Urge Congress to Mandate DNA Screening as $100,000 Horsepox Case Shows Risk
2 articles · Updated · WIRED · Jun 4
Summary
Sam Altman, Demis Hassabis, Dario Amodei and Mustafa Suleyman signed a public letter pressing Congress to require synthetic DNA and RNA sellers to screen both customers and orders.
The group warned AI could erode the expertise barrier that has historically limited bioweapons development, helping users find unscreened providers or alter orders to evade checks.
A bipartisan Senate bill this year would impose screening on all US gene-synthesis providers, expanding on Biden-era federal-funding rules that already steer buyers to screened vendors.
Screening is already voluntary at many firms through the International Gene Synthesis Consortium, but gaps remain and Microsoft researchers last year showed AI-designed protein sequences could slip past existing filters.
The push reflects a broader biosecurity fear sharpened since Canadian researchers rebuilt horsepox in 2017 using $100,000 of mail-order DNA, demonstrating how cheaper synthesis could aid creation of dangerous pathogens.
How can US laws stop malicious actors from ordering dangerous DNA from unregulated countries?
With desktop DNA printers becoming common, is it too late to control who creates synthetic life?
Can defensive AI keep pace in the biological arms race it has inadvertently created?
AI-Driven Biosecurity Risks: Congressional Action, DNA Synthesis Screening, and the Global Race to Safeguard Biotechnology
Overview
The United States is facing urgent pressure to strengthen biosecurity as rapid advances in biotechnology and artificial intelligence have made it easier to design and obtain dangerous biological sequences. Growing concerns from experts, industry leaders, and bipartisan lawmakers have led to calls for a reevaluation of current safeguards and the push for mandatory DNA synthesis screening. In response to these escalating risks, Congress has introduced the Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act of 2026 to address critical gaps in oversight. This momentum reflects the need for updated regulations to keep pace with emerging threats and protect national security.