OpenAI's Altman and Anthropic's Amodei Sign Letter Against AI Bioweapons

In a rare show of unity, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei have signed an open letter urging policymakers to enact legislation requiring mandatory screening of synthetic nucleic acid orders. The letter, also signed by Google DeepMind's Demis Hassabis, Meta's Alexandr Wang, and numerous scientists and policy experts, emphasizes that while AI accelerates scientific discovery, it could also lower the knowledge barriers that have historically prevented bad actors from developing biological weapons. The signatories call this a 'rare moment of agreement across stakeholders that are often at odds.'

The central policy ask is straightforward: require DNA synthesis providers to scan incoming orders for potentially dangerous sequences and verify customer legitimacy before fulfilling requests. The letter also requests that order data be recorded and made available to investigators, arguing that 'awareness of traceability itself deters misuse.' Although RNA isn't explicitly mentioned, the logic extends to all synthetic nucleic acids. The letter was organized by two think tanks: the nonpartisan Institute for Progress and the right-leaning Foundation for American Innovation.

As AI progresses rapidly, the signatories warn that the ability to design and manufacture bioweapons could become accessible to a wider range of malicious actors. This urgency has prompted OpenAI to take additional steps on its own. The company released a policy white paper Tuesday proposing a federal-level AI model vetting plan even more stringent than President Trump's recent executive order. On Wednesday, Altman also met with Senator Bernie Sanders, one of the most vocal AI critics in Congress, signaling a broader push for responsible governance.