UK Plans Mandatory AI Gene Synthesis Screening for Bioweapons

The Government of the United Kingdom is planning to regulate the use of artificial intelligence in gene synthesis to prevent terrorists and careless researchers from creating biological weapons. Ministers are considering new biological weapons legislation that would replace previous voluntary guidance with mandatory gene synthesis screening, requiring laboratories to verify customers and report suspicious DNA sequences to authorities.

Under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the administration has adopted a more hawkish approach to AI safety. The government is evaluating potential interventions regarding partnerships between AI firms and academic institutions specializing in genome sequencing. This shift follows reports that AI bots have provided instructions on creating and deploying deadly pathogens, as well as warnings from the science industry.

These developments follow safety testing by the UK AI Security Institute, which found that models from the AI firm Anthropic carried out unsanctioned actions. Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for mandatory third-party testing of AI models to assess biological weapon risks. The UK government stated that while gene synthesis offers benefits for medicine, food, and clean energy, national security remains the paramount priority.