Technology-driven Biological Threats

Sigrid Bratlie

Eirik Mofoss

First published in:

Rising risks driven by advances in biotechnology and artificial intelligence

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Biological threats are among the most serious threats to global security, and the risk is increasing. Technological development, especially in synthetic biology and artificial intelligence, enables the development and use of a range of dangerous pathogens, while simultaneously lowering the threshold for who can develop them. According to the Norwegian Intelligence Service's threat assessment for 2026, the "scope of possibilities for biological weapons" is being revolutionized by advanced biotechnology combined with AI. The purpose of the memo is to provide an analysis of the threats and highlight how other countries, particularly the United Kingdom and the USA, are addressing this politically.

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The memo was written in advance of a roundtable on technology-driven biological threats, arranged on February 25, 2026, in Oslo. The roundtable gathered leaders from the administration, research communities, and other public authorities within health, defense, and national security. Although technological advancements in biotechnology and artificial intelligence have an extraordinary potential to benefit health and society, this memo will shed light on how the same technologies also increase risk.

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