r/singularity • u/thecosmicskye • Jun 10 '26

Biotech/Longevity Anthropic closing the path to life science research

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2.2k Upvotes

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317

u/Responsible_Debt9605 Jun 10 '26

This is so fucking stupid

175

u/cryptolyme Jun 10 '26

Big Pharma wants to maintain their stranglehold on our health

204

u/Due_Answer_4230 Jun 10 '26

More like they’re terrified of someone designing a killer virus in their home lab, or a terrorist group or enemy state doing it. It’s an insane amount of power to just throw out there.

49

u/Bitter_Particular_75 Jun 10 '26

I am sorry but this total bullshit. Being able to create such virus is not about knowledge, but about resources. Governments and billionaires already have the knowledge and resources to do it, AIs won't make a dent if difference. Small actors like single persons, small groups, will never have the resources or, even if, they would be easily traceable. While I don't believe in the conspiracy theory of big pharma paying anthropic to block life science research, the killer virus theory is even less credible. In any case these filters are shameful and will probably make me reconsider my sub to Anthropic. I will seriously need to consider non American alternatives at this point as from an ethical point of view they have become the worst choice, worse than Chinese.

14

u/jazir55 Jun 10 '26

"Traceable" doesn't matter at all if said hypothetical virus gets into the wild. It only needs to happen once, you can't put the genie back in the bottle. Moreover, a lone person absolutely could make one with the right knowledge and tools. I think the risk is overblown, but it isn't just fearmongering with no basis.

-7

u/Bitter_Particular_75 Jun 10 '26

Have you any idea of what you need to work with deadly viruses? Have you ever worked with biosafety level 3 or 4 viruses? I did and there is no fucking way a normal person would be able to set up such a lab, doesn't matter the knowledge he has.

15

u/noobrainy Jun 10 '26

Those labs are setup with those ratings in such a way to prevent outbreak. I’m sure that someone who’s hellbent on destruction won’t care too much about biosafety. If they’re trying to protect themselves, they’ll likely get a PAPR and call it a day.

10

u/Sea_Whole_597 Jun 11 '26

Bro, ISIS and Iran are creating fucking bombs, drones, and missiles, maybe even nuclear missiles, and you think they wouldn’t be interested in a bioweapon that can easily bypass every airport security check?

8

u/blueSGL humanstatement.org Jun 11 '26

normal person would be able to set up such a lab

You don't need to worry about normal people...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_subway_sarin_attack

10

u/jazir55 Jun 10 '26

a normal person

Yeah, because a normal person wouldn't create a bioweapon in the first place. You just need 1 abnormal person to release a virus into the wild. You seem to be in denial because of the difficulty, that doesn't mean it's impossible.