Experts call on Agriculture Minister to close AI-enabled biosecurity gap

Over 120 experts in AI and biosecurity have sent an open letter to Australia's Agriculture Minister, urging the use of existing legal powers to mandate screening of imported synthetic DNA and RNA. The letter warns that AI tools could enable the design of novel biological threats, and that current import regulations are insufficient to address this risk.

They argue that AI can now generate sequences for pathogens that evade natural immune responses, and that screening technology exists to detect dangerous sequences at customs.

The letter highlights a gap between current biosecurity measures and the capabilities of AI-enabled biotechnology. The Minister's office has acknowledged receipt of the letter but has not yet announced any specific policy response.