The Unseen Threat to America

The greatest danger facing America might be something we can’t even see. Biological and chemical weapons can instill a deep sense of fear and cause chaos, and sadly, their potential risk is increasing, particularly with the advancements in artificial intelligence. To avert disaster, it’s crucial to harness AI to combat the threats that this technology might unleash.

We stand precariously close to a crisis. A troubling incident occurred last month when two Chinese nationals—funded by their government for combating harmful fungi—were caught smuggling pathogens into the U.S. Thankfully, the FBI intervened just in time.

AI has the potential to initiate the next pandemic, and it can serve as an unmatched tool in the hands of terrorists. This wasn’t just any ordinary fungus. It was labeled the “weapon of agroterrorism” due to its devastating impact on American agriculture, a situation that not only made many ill but also threatened the nation’s food supply.

Those of us who lived through 9/11 still recall the anxiety when anthrax-laced letters were sent through the mail, resulting in five fatalities and making people dread checking their mailboxes. Year after year, new threats emerge, such as individuals targeting military installations and public figures with a poison derived from castor beans.

More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic threw the world into disarray, and suspicions linger over whether it was linked to mishandling at a laboratory in Wuhan.

AI-Driven Bioweapons: A Reality

The rapid evolution of AI exacerbates these issues. In 2022, just before ChatGPT became widely available, AI was employed to generate around 40,000 new chemical weapons in a matter of hours.

This year, AI even produced recipes for hazardous substances like toxic chloramine gas. Experts have been raising alarms about the capability of AI to potentially ignite the next pandemic. The tools that can create biological weapons could just as easily serve for more benevolent purposes, like developing treatments for untreatable diseases.

Yet, can we simply halt AI development? It’s not so straightforward. Implementing biological espionage and terrorism through mail remains a significant problem. Why, then, would we enable potential creators of bioweapons by giving them access to advanced tech?

Moreover, it’s important for America not to fall behind in AI innovation with respect to global competitors. Both the COVID outbreak and the agroterrorism concerns can trace roots back to actions taken in China. I mean, letting AI slip into the hands of nefarious actors is risky enough without letting it further enhance China’s abilities.

So, what can we do about it?

Forging Effective Protection

First off, the administration needs to actively pursue and thwart any actions linked to biological and chemical terrorism. The recent FBI operation highlights that U.S. law enforcement is attentive to these threats and can still act before harm occurs.

In a similar vein, during his first term, former President Trump laid out a national biological defense strategy in 2018, a move underscored by his rapid military response to Syria for its chemical weapons use that same year. This shows a commitment to halting such weapons through the might of American deterrence.

However, traditional approaches won’t cut it anymore. As AI advances, so does the threat. We must use AI to counter AI.

Some U.S.-based AI companies, like Renovaro and OpenAI, are already employing machine learning techniques to thwart the creation of weapon recipes and to detect biological and chemical threats before they spiral out of control.

AI experts have devised new programming protocols to prevent large language models from being misused for making weapons of mass destruction. Additionally, Renovaro’s AI is exploring the feasibility of concocting antidotes at an astonishing rate—potentially in days rather than the long months it took to develop effective vaccines during the COVID crisis.

While former President Trump has advocated for protective measures against missile strikes, we must also recognize that the next conflict could unfold through microorganisms rather than munitions. A “biological shield” is necessary, and AI has the potential to provide that defense.