Epoch AI
August 2024
Biosecurity and AI
AI-Bio Model Observatory
We provided Epoch AI with $80,000 to systematically track the proliferation of bio-relevant frontier models and the adoption of biosecurity safeguards in these models over time. This research effort, led by Pablo Villalobos and David Atasanov, will establish a comprehensive baseline of biological sequence models, biological design tools, and frontier AI models, analyzing their incorporation of safety measures and risk mitigations.
We expect this research project will help measure progress on implementing biosecurity safeguards for AI-Bio models, enabling evidence-based tracking of improvements in both the prevalence and quality of crucial safety measures. The observatory will provide invaluable data to inform policymakers and model developers about current gaps and opportunities in AI-Bio safety.