AI helped discover 160,000 new viruses – here’s why that’s good news.
Tl;dr
- Artificial intelligence can detect new species of viruses.
- A machine learning model identified 161,979 new RNA viruses.
- This discovery considerably expands our knowledge of viruses.
A major scientific advance thanks to Artificial Intelligence
While there is some mistrust about artificial intelligence (AI), it has specific strengths that could be of great help to humanity. Among these, the detection of new virus species seems to be an incredibly promising force.
An unprecedented discovery of new species of viruses
A new machine learning model from the University of Sydney, Australia, analyzed a staggering amount of data to discover as many as 161,979 new RNA viruses. This feat was achieved by examining genetic data and crossing it with unrecognized viruses.
“We have a window open to an otherwise hidden part of life on earth, revealing remarkable biodiversity,” said lead author Professor Edwards Holmes from the University of Sydney’s Faculty of Medicine and Health.
The algorithm, called LucaProt, processes enormous amounts of data, including virus genomes. It then associates them with protein structures used by RNA viruses to replicate. “This is the largest number of new virus species discovered in a single study, massively expanding our knowledge of the viruses that live among us”added Professor Holmes.
This type of result would have traditionally taken much longer, but discovery is about more than just finding disease-causing viruses. Some of these RNA viruses exist in extreme conditions across the globe and form an essential part of an ecosystem. This study found them in hot springs, hydrothermal vents and even in the Earth’s atmosphere.
AI: an unprecedented tool for scientific exploration
“Discovering so many new viruses at once is astonishing, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. There are millions more to be discovered, and we can apply the same approach to identifying bacteria and parasites.”concluded the professor. AI is thus a valuable aid in shaping the world and scientific research, well beyond the creation of images or humorous texts.
