Executive Summary

The ongoing concern about bioterrorism is now fueled by technological advancements in AI models and genetic engineering, leading experts to suggest the creation of new regulations as safeguards. Bioterrorism is the voluntary dispersion of biological agents or toxins with malicious intentions. Biological weapons represent a unique danger, with their potential ability to spread quickly and broadly and their high levels of lethality. Furthermore, their relatively low price of manufacture increases the attractiveness for terrorist organisations. 

Today, AI models’ continual advancement ensures that they will persist in spreading highly specialised knowledge, increasing accessibility of information, including that needed to create bioweapons. Similarly, genetic engineering expertise and tools are now available on the internet and are cheaper to obtain. For these reasons, experts are warning governments to regulate the information and tools. 

Images Sourced From: Senior Airman Bryson Sherard, Ca.garcia.s, Oregon National Guard, Oregon National Guard