The International Biosecurity and Biosafety Initiative for Science (IBBIS) participated in the AI Action Summit in February 2025, contributing to the critical discussion on the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and the life sciences. The lead of our international standards project, Sophie Peresson, participated in a side event, Realizing the Transformative Power of AI in the Life Sciences: Priorities for Safety & Security, co-hosted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Pour Demain.

The event featured a discussion on “Governance and AI Model Safety Measures Needed to Prevent High-Consequence Biological Harms”. The panel, moderated by Tom Inglesby, Director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, brought together leading experts to explore how to assess and address pandemic-level risks at the AI-biology nexus (AIxBio). Discussions centered on the need for expert- and industry-informed guiding principles that could shape future international norms and frameworks. These frameworks aim to maximize the benefits of AI in health and biotechnology while mitigating potential security threats.

IBBIS provided insights on DNA sequence screening and the broader challenges associated with AI-driven advances in bioengineering. In particular, we highlighted:

• The absence of globally harmonized standards for DNA synthesis screening;
• The challenges posed by dual-use technologies and the need for robust safeguards;
• The evolving geopolitical context and its implications for biosecurity governance.

This engagement aligns with IBBIS’s ongoing efforts to evaluate and enhance biosecurity measures for emerging biotechnologies. As part of our international project on biosecurity components of ISO 20688-2, we continue to engage with stakeholders across government, industry, and academia to advance best practices for DNA synthesis screening and responsible innovation.

We thank the other panellists, Friederike Grosse-Holz of the EU AI Office, and Chris Meserole of the Frontier Model forum, for their complementary insights. IBBIS remains committed to fostering collaboration and dialogue on AI and biosecurity, ensuring that scientific progress benefits humanity while upholding the highest safety and security standards.