Testbiotech has today published a new report examining the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and genetic engineering. The report focuses in particular on risks to biodiversity, including examples such as insecticidal maize, robot-adapted flowers, genetically engineered insects, microorganisms and viruses.
Within the last decades, large amounts of genomic data have been digitised and made available in databases. Researchers can use AI to search through the huge amounts of molecular genetic information and subsequently use their findings for the design of new gene variants and gene combinations. At the same time, new genetic engineering (or new genomic techniques, NGTs) makes it possible to change almost any gene in any life form.
Geopolitical rivalries between the US, China and the EU are problematic in this context. The convergence of AI and genetic engineering is seen as key to technological superiority, prosperity, security and military supremacy. Against this backdrop, there could be a political willingness to knowingly accept potential damage caused by the release of genetically engineered organisms in order to ‘win’ the technological race.
Libertarian ideas rejecting any regulation in the field of AI and biotechnology are on their way to take over. In contrast, many experts point out that increased international cooperation is urgently needed in this area in order to contain the associated risks.
The EU plans for the future regulation of NGT plants show that legislators could ultimately abandon their responsibility to protect health and the environment – and give way to free market forces. According to current EU plans, environmental risk assessment would only be mandatory in rare cases. In particular, an arbitrary threshold of 20 genetic changes would be a central part of the future regulation. Within such a legal framework, AI could be easily used to design specific NGT plants which do not exceed the proposed threshold but go along with characteristics that are new to the environment. As a result, even NGT plants going along with severe environmental risks could be marketed and released without environmental risk assessment.
The new technologies might play a part in solving current problems. However, this requires regulating them in such a way as to prevent harm to health, the environment and, in particular, to future generations. Therefore, Testbiotech demands that the current proposal to deregulate NGT plants should be rejected. In addition, the organisation proposes ten measures to contain the risks of AI and genetic engineering.
Contact:
Christoph Then, info@testbiotech.org, Tel + 49 151 54638040
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