Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed and initially tested in humans what they describe as the world’s first vaccine designed by artificial intelligence. The vaccine targets viruses in the sarbecovirus family, including SARS and SARS-CoV-2, and uses a predictive design approach rather than a response to currently circulating strains. By analyzing multiple coronaviruses, the scientists used AI to identify conserved regions and create a synthetic antigen intended to direct the immune response toward shared viral features. The vaccine is also delivered without a needle, through a specialized jet injector system.
The first human trial involved 39 people and was designed mainly to assess early safety and tolerability. It produced only a modest immune response, and a second study with 200 participants is now underway to measure effectiveness. Experts quoted in the article cautioned that the result should not be overread: larger trials are still required before the vaccine can be considered safe and effective in the real world. One expert also noted that the method is better described as computer-aided vaccine engineering than as a fully autonomous AI system. The same approach is now being applied to universal vaccines for influenza and Ebola.