Cover Image
suited up person typing data into computer
Synthetic Biology and Artificial Intelligence

Facilitators: 
Bert Jacobs, SOLS
Emma Frow, Bioengineering & SFIS 
Christopher Plaisier, Bioengineering

Day: Wednesday, February 18, 2026, 9 - 10 a.m.
   Tempe campus, LSC 202

For more information contact
Andrew Muscarella
[email protected]
 

Register for coffee and bagels

 

Synthetic biology is increasingly intersecting with artificial intelligence in powerful ways. AI is now being used to design new proteins, metabolic pathways, and even entire genetic codes faster than human researchers could manage. This fusion accelerates the creation of novel organisms for medicine, agriculture, and environmental applications, but also amplifies risks. AI could design pathogens with unprecedented capabilities or create organisms whose ecological impact is unpredictable. So, we might ask, How does AI change the pace and scope of synthetic biology innovation? What safeguards should exist to prevent malicious or unsafe AI-designed organisms? Who is accountable if an AI-designed organism causes harm: the programmer, the biologist, or the AI system’s creator?