AI Is a Healer, Not a Killer

null By Vijay PandeDec. 27, 2023 5:48 pm ET Photo: Getty ImagesWe shouldn’t worry about the ability of artificial intelligence to create bioterrorism weapons. Restricting AI’s ability to understand biology and chemistry would pose a far greater danger. Evil is easy. Terrorists have to succeed only once, while defenders must prevent every attempt. Countless terrorist plans have been thwarted, but the world knows only about those that succeed. There’s a similar asymmetry in life sciences and healthcare: It’s far easier to hurt than to heal. Most compounds are toxic at relatively low doses—many drugs fail in Phase 1 trials for toxicity—but some could be modified to treat the many diseases for which we have no cure. The goal of chemotherapy is to kill the cancer cells while (barely) keeping the patient alive. Copyright ©2023 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8Sponsored OffersGoPro: GoPro Promo Code: 15% off Next Order w/ Email Sign-upSamsung: S

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Opinion Dec 28, 2023 Add to Reading List

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Vijay Pande

Dec. 27, 2023 5:48 pm ET

Photo: Getty Images

We shouldn’t worry about the ability of artificial intelligence to create bioterrorism weapons. Restricting AI’s ability to understand biology and chemistry would pose a far greater danger.

Evil is easy. Terrorists have to succeed only once, while defenders must prevent every attempt. Countless terrorist plans have been thwarted, but the world knows only about those that succeed. There’s a similar asymmetry in life sciences and healthcare: It’s far easier to hurt than to heal. Most compounds are toxic at relatively low doses—many drugs fail in Phase 1 trials for toxicity—but some could be modified to treat the many diseases for which we have no cure. The goal of chemotherapy is to kill the cancer cells while (barely) keeping the patient alive.