AI-Driven Biothreats: Can Artificial Intelligence Secure America?

Artificial intelligence is transforming both the **risk landscape** and the **defensive toolkit** for national security. As the world confronts mounting threats from biological and chemical weapons, AI is emerging as both a potential enabler and a critical line of defense. The recent surge in AI capabilities has forced governments, defense industries, and policy makers to ask: can we use AI to outpace its own misuse?

The Dual-Edged Sword: AI’s Role in Biothreats

Recent cases, from intercepted agroterrorism attempts to anthrax mailings after 9/11, show that biological and chemical threats remain a national security concern. Now, more people can access AI tools that generate new compounds or simulate molecules. This access increases the urgency of the threat. For example, one AI drug-discovery engine made 40,000 chemical weapon candidates in six hours. Even simple chatbots, if not secured, have been coaxed into producing deadly recipes.

Global actors, both state and non-state, are taking notice. From the NATO alliance’s biodefense priorities to recent arrests involving pathogen smuggling, the intersection of AI and biological weaponry is now a priority for law enforcement.

AI biological and chemical weapons cybersecurity defense illustration — AI is rapidly shaping both threats and solutions in the realm of biological and chemical weapons defense. *Image: Unsplash*

Case Study: Law Enforcement on the Digital Frontline

Last month, the FBI stopped a plan to smuggle a dangerous fungus into the United States. The suspects allegedly intended to use it as an agroterrorism weapon. Incidents like these highlight both our vulnerabilities and the value of proactive, intelligence-led intervention.

“The same AI tools that can design next-generation drugs can also design next-generation poisons.”
— National Security Analyst

AI accelerates research at an unprecedented pace. For every step forward in disease treatment, there is also a risk of fast weaponization. Strict guidelines and technical controls are needed to manage these risks.

Biodefense in the Age of AI: What’s Being Done?

The US has taken significant steps to counter both *natural outbreaks* and *intentional attacks*. Initiatives like the National Biodefense Strategy—launched in 2018—provide a strategic framework for readiness, resilience, and rapid response. At the operational level, law enforcement and intelligence agencies have become increasingly tech-savvy, leveraging digital forensics and AI-powered threat detection to stay ahead of adversaries.

Private sector leaders, including OpenAI and Renovaro, are actively building safeguards into their systems. By integrating real-time monitoring, automated content moderation, and advanced detection algorithms, these firms are working to ensure that AI cannot be weaponized as an open-source tool for biological or chemical attacks.

Innovation in Response: The “Biological Golden Dome” Concept

One emerging vision is a “biological golden dome”—a nationwide AI-powered detection and response network, inspired by missile defense systems but targeting invisible microbial and chemical threats. This paradigm could drastically reduce the time needed to identify, contain, and neutralize new agents, moving from months (as with early COVID-19 response) to mere days for countermeasures.

Technical Insight: Advanced machine learning models are now being trained to spot weaponized pathogens by analyzing genetic signatures and predicting their behavior in real-time. These models draw from both defense and public health data, creating a new level of situational awareness for early intervention.

Risks, Realities, and the Road Ahead

Despite major investments, significant **challenges remain**. Adversaries may develop “shadow AIs” in countries with lax regulations, while global scientific collaboration complicates export controls and enforcement. The prospect of AI-powered bioweapon development is driving calls for stronger governance, risk assessment, and technical safeguards—both in the United States and internationally.

Ultimately, *pulling the plug* on AI development is neither practical nor desirable. Instead, sustained investment in **ethical AI development**, international cooperation, and robust oversight will be critical. The next generation of biodefense—both in policy and technology—must ensure that AI’s potential for harm is matched or exceeded by its capacity for good.

For the defense and security community, this means a renewed focus on *public-private partnerships*, *data sharing*, and *continuous innovation*. As America looks to secure its future, leveraging AI as both shield and sword in the fight against biological and chemical weapons is no longer optional—it is essential.