Since the AIxBio Horizon Scan Winter 2025-2026 published in March 2026, there has been steady, incremental progress across AI-enabled biological tools. Protein design tools have continued to improve, agentic coding tools have matured in ways that lower barriers to computational biology, and commercial AI companies are making significant investments in the life sciences.
The AIxBio field stands at a critical juncture where rapid capability advances are outpacing governance frameworks and safety measures. The next 18 months will likely prove pivotal in determining whether voluntary safety practices by AI companies, emerging evaluation frameworks, and international coordination efforts can keep pace with technological development.
China Arms Control and Disarmament Association (CACDA) and Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) Joint Statement on Shared Priorities for Strengthened Biosecurity & Responsible AI-Biotechnology Innovation
Managed access will be critical for reducing biosecurity risks related to the misuse of biological AI tools. By working to develop best practices for each element of this framework—risk levels, tiered access, and practices to verify legitimacy—developers of biological AI tools and the broader life sciences community can reduce risks while maintaining the benefits of these tools.
AIxBio capabilities hold immense promise—but they also introduce unprecedented risks. The exploitation of AIxBio capabilities for harm is a plausible near-term risk—and the time for action is now. NTI | bio offers actionable recommendations for governments, industry leaders, and philanthropic organizations to prevent catastrophic misuse.
Nuclear Security Implications of AI and Emerging Technologies: A FutureSafe Analysis of Risks and Opportunities was motivated by the vision for applying technology to reduce catastrophic nuclear, biological, and other advanced technological threats to human civilization.
NTI | bio partnered with Lattice Automation to design and pilot a standard for capturing and transmitting metadata.
Statement on biosecurity risks at the convergence of and the life sciences developed in the context of the AIxBio Global Forum, which provides a platform for international experts, policymakers, and other key stakeholders to collaboratively advance practical solutions to safeguard capabilities at the convergence of AI and the life sciences.
Response by NTI to the U.S. government issued request for information (RFI) related to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan outlined by President Donald Trump’s January 2025 Executive Order.
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with the life sciences offers tremendous potential benefits to society, but advances in AI biodesign tools also pose significant risks of misuse, with the potential for global consequences.
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