Artificial intelligence’s expanding role in biotechnology is sharpening a consequential debate: how much does AI lower the barriers to biological misuse, and how can its benefits be realized without creating unacceptable risks? As important, what can and should be done about it? These discussions underscore the need to distinguish demonstrated capabilities from speculative claims and to develop safeguards proportionate to the threat. For government, industry, and investors, the challenge is to strengthen security while advancing the technologies that could improve disease detection, accelerate medical countermeasures, and build resilience against biological threats.
Nixon Peabody is proud to host “Biosecurity and Artificial Intelligence—Risk, Myths, and Opportunities,” featuring the Honorable Mallory Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of The Council on Strategic Risks and former Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Arms Control, Deterrence, and Stability at the U.S. Department of State, and NP’s Peter I. Belk, former Assistant Secretary for Readiness (Acting) at the U.S. Department of War. Moderated by NP’s Rachel Winkler, former Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the discussion will bring national security, policy, and legal perspectives to the questions driving this debate.
The speakers will examine credible risks, challenge prevailing myths, and explore opportunities for responsible innovation and investment—including biosurveillance, secure biotechnology infrastructure, and preparedness capabilities—while considering how public-private collaboration can translate scientific advances into stronger security and sustainable commercial value.
Speakers
- Hon Mallory Stewart, Chief Executive Officer, Council on Strategic Risks
- Peter Belk, Partner, Nixon Peabody LLP
- Rachel Winkler, Partner, Nixon Peabody LLP