AI Labs Urge Congress to Tighten Safeguards Against Bioweapons
OpenAI, Anthropic and other leading AI researchers and executives have signed a public letter urging Congress to enact laws that require gene-synthesis providers to screen customers and orders for dangerous sequences, strengthening safeguards as AI tools could lower barriers to designing bioweapons. While some firms already screen orders, advocates warn that current tools aren’t perfect, and call for additional controls and penalties to prevent misuse and potential pandemics.