The New York Times reports:

For the first time, scientists say they have used viruses designed by artificial intelligence to treat a human patient.

Researchers announced on Tuesday that they had administered the virus, known as a phage, to a patient suffering from a deadly bacterial infection. Phages attack bacteria, and the hope is that this one will kill the microbes causing the infection.

Radical Numerics, the start-up that created the viruses, posted a technical report about them on its website. But the company declined to provide information about the patient or the doctors running the trial, citing confidentiality requirements.

The report has not been peer reviewed or published in a scientific journal. Company officials said the trial had been authorized by the Food and Drug Administration.

“We take our responsibility to protect patient confidentiality and maintain the trust of our clinical partners extremely seriously,” said Eric Nguyen, the chief executive officer of Radical Numerics.

“We intend to publish our scientific findings through peer-reviewed research, with any future disclosure of clinical details subject to appropriate consent,” he added.

Outside experts greeted the news with curiosity, and a wait-and-see attitude. “If it works, that’s incredible,” said Michael Baym, a microbiologist at Harvard University who was not involved in the research.

If the experiment succeeds, it could point to a new way to use A.I. in medicine, providing individualized treatment that targets even the most resistant bacterial infections.

Dr. Baym said he would reserve judgment until the treatment is finished and it becomes possible to examine just how novel the company’s viruses are. “My impulse is to be skeptical,” he said.

A.I.-designed viruses may be new, but phage therapy dates back over a century. [Continue reading…]