Roundtables: A Conversation With the Creator of AI-Designed Viruses

**Roundtables: A Conversation With the Creator of AI-Designed Viruses** **Source:** MIT Tech Review **Date:** Friday, October 16, 2026 Can artificial intelligence design new life forms? In 2025, Stanford University PhD student Samuel King provided a preliminary answer to this profound question. King successfully utilized a generative AI model to propose genetic blueprints for microscopic viruses. While this achievement isn't yet an example of fully AI-generated life, it represents a significant leap, hinting at what could be next in the field of synthetic biology. Join senior AI reporter James O'Donnell for an insightful interview with Samuel King. The conversation will delve into King's groundbreaking work, his recent recognition as one of MIT Technology Review's Innovators Under 35, and the emerging new perspectives on biology that his research introduces. **Event Details:** The live discussion is scheduled for October 16th at 18:30 BST / 1:30 PM EDT / 10:30 AM PDT. [Register now](#) **Speakers:** * James O'Donnell, AI Reporter * Samuel King, Bioengineering PhD Candidate, Stanford University/Arc Institute **Related Stories:** * He asked an AI to design viruses … and it worked. * AI-designed viruses are here and already killing bacteria.