Why AI Isn’t Likely to Wipe Out Humanity With Bioweapons

Summary

A September 21, 2026, Wired article argues that an AI-created bioweapon is unlikely to be among humanity’s most immediate threats. David Bellamy, a research scientist at the Institute of Foundation Models in California, says artificial intelligence does not fundamentally change the longstanding challenge of dual-use biological research. He notes that before large language models, the internet, open-access journals, and translation tools had already expanded access to biological information and laboratory protocols. The article provides no specific risk estimates or independent evidence supporting its assessment.