Leaders from some of the world’s largest AI firms have united to collectively appeal to Congress for stronger safeguards against a potential threat enhanced by their own technologies. Dario Amodei of Anthropic, Sam Altman from OpenAI, and Mustafa Suleyman of Microsoft AI have joined numerous experts in life sciences and national security by signing a public letter advocating for the regulation of synthetic materials that could be exploited to develop bioweapons. This initiative was spearheaded by the conservative think tank Foundation for American Innovation, in collaboration with the nonpartisan Institute for Progress.
In their letter, the executives emphasize the necessity for Congress to enforce screening procedures for companies engaging in the sale of synthetic DNA and RNA. The signatories warned that advancements in AI could lower the barriers that have historically hindered malicious actors from acquiring biological weaponry. Some manufacturers of these materials, including Twist Bioscience and Ansa Biotechnologies, also endorsed the letter, indicating a willingness within part of the industry to embrace regulation.
“We are witnessing remarkable advancements in AI systems, which, while beneficial to fields like science and medicine, also increase the risk of nefarious entities gaining access to biological weapons,” the letter stated.
Although many companies currently engage in voluntary screening, the authors are calling on Congress to mandate these practices as a legal requirement throughout the industry. Additionally, they urge that sellers maintain comprehensive records of orders and material specifications to aid in potential biosecurity investigations.
The letter is particularly timely, as the accessibility of advanced AI models is rapidly expanding on a global scale. A recent Stanford University study highlighted that generative AI tools reached over half of the world’s population within three years, outpacing the adoption of both personal computers and the internet. Concurrently, experts have noted that publicly accessible AI models provide detailed guidance on the creation and dissemination of biological weapons, as reported by the New York Times.
The government has historically acknowledged the importance of defending against biological threats, despite the fact that biological agents have constituted just 0.02% of all terrorist attacks, according to the American Journal of Emergency Medicine. Nevertheless, their often undetectable or contagious nature renders them a unique risk to public safety.
Notably dangerous biological agents like Anthrax can have fatal consequences, with an almost certain mortality rate of 100% if inhaled without treatment. The infamous Anthrax attacks in 2001, shortly after the September 11 attacks, resulted in five fatalities and numerous infections, catalyzing one of the FBI’s largest investigations.
Current legislation exists to safeguard against bioweapons. The 1989 Biological Weapons Anti-Terrorism Act criminalized the development or possession of biological agents for use as weapons, potentially leading to life imprisonment. Following the 2001 Anthrax incidents, the PATRIOT Act expanded the original law, making it easier to prosecute individuals for possessing dangerous biological agents without needing to prove intent to weaponize them.
Progress has also been made in Congress regarding the regulation of synthetic DNA and RNA sales. In February, Senators Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced the Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act of 2026. This proposed legislation aims to mandate screening protocols for customers and orders, while allowing exemptions for materials deemed non-hazardous.
As the bill navigates Congress, Josh Wentzel, a senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation, remarked that the letter presents an ideal opportunity for lawmakers to see that the AI sector and synthetic materials industry share a common concern.
“This initiative is bipartisan, straightforward, achievable, and largely uncontroversial,” Wentzel noted, expressing hope that the alignment of interests will expedite the passage of the Biosecurity Modernization and Innovation Act. “This is a goal echoed by numerous national security experts and is a call to action from the nucleic acid synthesis industry itself.”
