Roundtables: A Conversation With the Creator of AI-Designed Viruses
MIT Technology Review is hosting a live roundtable conversation featuring senior AI reporter James O'Donnell and Stanford University PhD student Samuel King. King was named one of the publication's Innovators Under 35 after using a generative AI model in 2025 to propose genetic blueprints for microscopic viruses. The event discusses his work and new ways of viewing biology.
The Core Development
MIT Technology Review is hosting a live roundtable conversation between senior AI reporter James O'Donnell and Samuel King, a bioengineering PhD candidate at Stanford University and the Arc Institute. In 2025, King used a generative artificial intelligence model to propose genetic blueprints for microscopic viruses, an achievement that led to him being named one of MIT Technology Review's Innovators Under 35. While not yet an example of fully AI-generated life, the work represents a significant step in that direction, prompting discussions about new ways of seeing biology and the capabilities of AI-designed viruses. Related coverage notes that these AI-designed viruses are already capable of killing bacteria. The live event is scheduled for October 16, 2026, and explores King's groundbreaking research at the boundary of artificial intelligence and biological sciences.
Why it matters
This conversation highlights the intersection of generative artificial intelligence and bioengineering, showcasing how AI models are beginning to design biological blueprints such as viruses.