Artificial Intelligence created 40,000 of new lethal chemical weapon compounds six hours after being given the task by scientists

(Source: Daily Mail)

An artificial intelligence model was able to create 40,000 chemical weapons compounds in just six hours, after being given the task by researchers.

A team of scientists were using AI to look for compounds that could be used to cure disease, and part of this involves filtering out any that could kill a human.

As part of a conference on potentially negative implications of new technology, biotech startup Collaborations Pharmaceuticals, from Raleigh, North Carolina, ‘flipped a switch’ in its AI algorithm, and had it find the most lethal compounds.

The team wanted to see just how quickly and easily an artificial intelligence algorithm could be abused, if it were set on a negative, rather than positive task.