Opinion writer Noah Smith recently published an article suggesting an AI-designed supervirus could wipe out 90% of humanity. The author, who has computational biology expertise, argues this scenario is far-fetched. Designing functional viruses is incredibly difficult, even for experts using state-of-the-art AI tools.

PhD students spend years designing simple peptides that often fail. A teenager without biological training could not solve such a complex problem. Even if a perfect virus were designed, assembling and distributing it would be extremely challenging.

While harmful biological agents are possible, the scale of destruction Smith envisions is unrealistic for decades. Existing lethal viruses like Ebola and rabies are already concerning without AI involvement. The article emphasizes the vast gap between current capabilities and the fictional scenario presented.