Op-ed warns biosecurity focus on AI risks neglects anthrax-era gaps
A commentary marking 25 years since the 2001 Amerithrax attacks argues that current attention to AI-designed bioweapons is crowding out urgent, existing biosecurity gaps. The author contends that oversight of biomaterials and lab equipment, including cheaper benchtop DNA synthesizers, has not kept pace with technology, and that government coordination remains as weak as it was during the 2001 anthrax mailings that killed five people.