DHS seeks new biosurveillance tech as AI lowers barrier to bio threats

DHS Science and Technology Directorate officials said AI and other emerging technologies are forcing a rethink of biological detection, and the agency is exploring agent-agnostic biosurveillance. DHS issued a request for information in May and launched a prize challenge for algorithmic bio-threat detection this month.

• DHS S&T is pursuing agent-agnostic biosurveillance instead of pathogen-specific detection
• DHS published a request for information on biodetection tech in May
• A prize challenge for algorithmic bio-threat detection launched this month
• Deputy undersecretary Julie Brewer cited AI as a key factor lowering the barrier to bio threats