Addressing the risks, hype, and inequities underpinning generative biology
Haga clic aquí para la versión en español. Cliquez ici pour la version française.
The African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB), together with Third World Network (TWN) and ETC Group, have produced a timely briefing paper ahead of the 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), to be held in Cali, Colombia, from 21st October to 1st November 2024. The briefing was researched and written by Jim Thomas, and externally reviewed by Maywa Montenegro de Wit and Dan McQuillan. In this vlog, Thomas sums up the issues:
This briefing addresses ‘generative’ artificial intelligence (AI) tools, better known for text chatbots such as ChatGPT, which are now being applied to generate novel digital sequences for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and proteins.
These models, developed by large digital technology firms and trained on vast quantities of digital DNA or protein sequences, find patterns and apply them to create novel digital sequences. This new industry, dubbed ‘generative biology’ by its advocates, is accompanied by promises that AI ‘Biodesign’ tools can deliver an array of technofixes for a more sustainable world.
These promises echo the speculations made for previous cycles of GMOs and first-generation AI systems, with each falling short of initial commercial hype as new problems emerged. The briefing hopefully will assist Parties to the CBD and other stakeholders in separating fact from fiction.
However, beyond the hype and whether or not reliable bioproducts ever emerge, very worryingly, the field of generative biology represents a bold grab on the world’s digital sequence information on genetic resources. Already, we are witnessing significant investment flowing to these developments and powerful digital players pumping the hype cycle to generate fascination, hope, and investment in generative biology. With legitimacy granted by Silicon Valley funders, AI firms will likely attempt to significantly change governance conditions for modern biotechnology – claiming the CBD’s core approach of defending precaution and equity is now outmoded in an age of AI.
The briefing requests Parties to the CBD to redouble their ground-truthing effort of horizon scanning, technology assessment, and monitoring by establishing a sensible process to understand the implications of SynBio’s integration with AI. In so doing, CBD Parties must examine, and strengthen, the Convention’s oversight arrangements for biotechnology in the face of a rapidly changing technological landscape.
French and Spanish translations of the briefing will be published shortly.
Click here to read the briefing.
On 12 September, the ACB, TWN and ETC Group hosted a webinar to discuss these issues. To read the programme, please click here.
Coverage by Global Political Economy news & analysis:
Part 1 focuses on a presentation by Jim Thomas during the “Black Box Biotech”: Understanding the governance challenges created by ‘generative biology’ – integration of AI with synthetic biology webinar. He looks at AI generative biology and the challenges it raises for the Convention on Biological Diversity. View part 1 here.
Part 2 further unpacks the presentations by webinar speakers Jim Thomas; Florian Rabitz, chief researcher in the Research Group Civil Society and Sustainability at Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania; Prof. Dr. Ossama Abdelkawy, senior scientist, Department of Labeled Compounds, Hot Laboratories Center, Atomic Energy Authority, Egypt; Lim Li Ching, senior researcher at international policy research and advocacy NGO, Third World Network (TWN) and co-chair of IPES-Food; and Guy Kastler, an organic farmer and founding member of the French Peasant Seed Network, Confédération Paysanne. View part 2 here.
