"The Evolution of AI Understanding Life"

Artificial intelligence programs, known as foundation models, are revolutionizing biology by making discoveries about genes, cells, and development. These models, trained on vast amounts of raw data, have the potential to reveal secrets about diseases, create new cell types, and even answer the fundamental question of what separates life from nonlife. While some scientists are optimistic about the profound insights these models may provide, others caution that their limitations and potential risks, such as privacy breaches and the creation of new biological weapons, need to be carefully considered and regulated.