The Download: AI's Extinction Risk and the Bioweapons Threat
Plus: Microsoft and OpenAI workers say AI is destroying the web.
By Thomas Macaulay
September 18, 2026
This is today's edition of The Download, our weekday newsletter that provides a daily dose of what's going on in the world of technology.
Could AI Really Kill Us All? Your Questions, Answered
On Wednesday, MIT Technology Review hosted a live Roundtables event that asked the question many seem to be asking right now: could AI really kill us all? But attendees had more questions than we had time to answer, so we asked senior AI editor Will Douglas Heaven and AI reporter Grace Huckins to tackle some of the best ones.
The questions they tried to answer include: Am I going to die? Why should AI kill us, if at all? Is AI really dangerous, or is it just tech companies drumming up PR? And what steps can be taken to make sure AI is controlled, monitored, and regulated effectively?
Here are their responses.
—Will Douglas Heaven and Grace Huckins
The Specter of AI-Enabled Bioweapons Is a Wake-Up Call for Biotech
As AI systems grow more capable, experts warn that the technology could lower barriers to creating dangerous biological agents. The convergence of AI and biotechnology presents a dual-use dilemma: the same tools that accelerate drug discovery and medical research could also be misused to design pathogens or bypass biosafety protocols.
In 2026, this concern has moved from speculative think pieces to boardroom agendas. Governments and biotech firms are now grappling with how to implement safeguards without stifling innovation. The challenge is compounded by the fact that many of the most powerful AI models are open-source or widely accessible, making strict control difficult.
Some proposed solutions include mandatory DNA synthesis screening, AI model licensing for high-risk applications, and international treaties akin to those governing nuclear materials. But critics argue that such measures could be easily circumvented and might push dangerous research underground.
As the line between computational and biological threats blurs, the need for adaptive governance—and a well-informed public—has never been more urgent.