Major artificial intelligence companies including OpenAI and Anthropic have joined with scientists and industry executives to send a letter to lawmakers warning about potential biological weapons risks from AI technology.

The letter urges legislators to implement better tracking systems for synthetic DNA sequences that could potentially be used in the development of bioweapons. The signatories include leading figures from prominent AI laboratories and research institutions.

The correspondence reflects growing concerns within the AI community about the potential misuse of advancing artificial intelligence capabilities in biological research and synthetic biology applications. As AI systems become more sophisticated, experts worry they could be used to accelerate the development of dangerous biological agents.

The letter comes as policymakers worldwide are grappling with how to regulate rapidly advancing AI technologies while preserving their beneficial applications in medicine, research, and other fields. The AI industry has increasingly called for proactive safety measures and oversight frameworks.

The specific tracking measures proposed in the letter would aim to monitor the creation and distribution of synthetic genetic material that could pose security risks if misused by bad actors.