AI-Driven Cancer Breakthrough Sparks Fears of Unchecked Technological Advancements
A groundbreaking mRNA cancer vaccine has shown promising results in its Phase III clinical trial. Developed by Moderna and Merck, Intismeran (research code V940/mRNA-4157) targets two key endpoints: Recurrence-Free Survival and Distant Metastasis-Free Survival.
The completion of the Phase III trial marks a significant achievement for cancer treatment. Unlike existing preventive vaccines that reduce cancer risk in healthy individuals, this therapeutic vaccine aims to treat existing cancers.
The capital market reacted positively to the news, with Moderna's stock price skyrocketing 170% on August 19. However, this surge was short-lived, and the company saw a sharp drop of over 20% the following day.
What's more alarming is that AI played a crucial role in developing this vaccine. Researchers at Moderna used large AI models to deduce protein folding, binding force prediction, and immune response simulation, enabling them to select up to 34 targets with the strongest immune killing power.
This breakthrough has raised concerns about the increasing reliance on AI in medical research. Daniel Kokotajlo, a researcher who worked at OpenAI's governance department from 2022 to 2024, predicted in his paper 'AI 2027' that AI would drive significant advancements in biotechnology by 2026.
Kokotajlo expressed concerns about the potential consequences of developing superintelligent machines. He warned that such systems could surpass human-level intelligence and pose catastrophic risks if not properly regulated.