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The next pandemic virus could be built using AI (thehill.com)

submitted 1 month ago by Lugh@futurology.today to c/futurology@futurology.today

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[–] threelonmusketeers@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Almost five years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, its central question remains subject to heated debate: Did the SARS-CoV-2 virus originate naturally, or was it leaked from a scientific lab participating in gain-of-function research?

No, gain of function research did not cause COVID-19

I find it a bit ridiculous that this "debate" is still ongoing, since the evidence is pretty clear. That's not to say that a future virus couldn't be engineered, but SARS-COV-2 was not.

[–] Lugh@futurology.today 3 points 1 month ago

Yes, it's an odd statement. The authors are all Harvard scientists, and I have checked what they post on Twitter, they aren't anti vaccine cranks. Though one of them, Al Ozonoff, does try to engage with such people. Perhaps this is a concession in a similar vein of outreach. The Hill is a conservative news website. Perhaps they felt they had to get their own dubious science a mention, and that was the price of publication for the Harvard scientists?