What does it mean to paraphrase a protein?

This explainer video unpacks the science behind paraphrasing a protein—a defining technique of Microsoft’s Paraphrase Project. Researchers discovered it is possible to use advanced open-source AI tools to reformulate toxic proteins, potentially preserving their function while disguising their form. The goal? To test whether existing DNA screening systems could detect these “paraphrased” threats. The results were concerning: thousands of synthetic variants slipped through undetected. In response, a cross-sector team developed and deployed updated algorithms, patching a critical gap and bolstering detection capabilities. By acknowledging the dual-use nature of powerful tools, this work offers foundational guidance and emerging best practices for safer, responsible innovation in synthetic biology.

Learn more about the Paraphrase Project

Paper: Strengthening nucleic acid biosecurity screening against generative protein design tools | October 2, 2025 | Science
Feature: The Paraphrase Project: Designing defense for an era of synthetic biology | October 6, 2025
Podcast: Ideas: More AI-resilient biosecurity with the Paraphrase Project | October 6, 2025 | Eric Horvitz, Bruce Wittmann, Tessa Alexanian, and James Diggans
Blog: When AI Meets Biology: Promise, Risk, and Responsibility | October 6, 2025 | Eric Horvitz

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