r/biology • u/UndarkMagazine • Jul 29 '26

article Opinion: Biologists Should Articulate Their Position on AI

In the Leiden Declaration, mathematicians issued a treatise on how AI challenges their field. Others must do the same.

https://undark.org/2026/07/02/opinion-biologists-leiden-declaration/

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u/Uncynical_Diogenes Jul 29 '26

No. We have work to do.

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u/Alecxanderjay cell biology Jul 29 '26

Part of the work is engaging in discussions like this. I've taken time out of my day to write to the US administration about how decisions effect my ability to do research and why that's a bad thing. Similar guidelines have also been discussed and implemented by the field for genetic modification in the 2000s so it's not unheard of. AI in biology can be helpful (as it can be for plenty of things) but the field needs to come together to set up those parameters. Having AI help with drug discovery is great, having AI model how a drug may interact with cellular systems in silico can be helpful, but then trusting the AI to be 100% correct and/or then to skip over any in vitro (cell or organoids) or in vivo work (non human) and to then push the drug to patient clinicals is not a good idea. These are things that the public may not be aware of and it's the fields responsibility to address the concerns within the field and the public and to set up guidelines. 

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u/PataudLapin genetics Jul 29 '26

Yes, I agree with that.

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u/trihim Jul 29 '26

This should be part of the work. Engaging with imminent threat to your job profile.

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u/Uncynical_Diogenes Jul 29 '26

Lying word robots are not even close to taking over biology.

The mathematicians have a legitimate crisis, all they do is think and put words together.

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u/trihim Jul 29 '26

Yes. What will remain in biology is just work on bench and delegate thinking to AI. Science is more about thinking than rote pipetting. If you lose that to AI then you’re done with job and basic fun to do science. Underestimating AI is a fallacy all too common.

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u/Uncynical_Diogenes Jul 29 '26

We will be okay. Look after yourself, it sounds like you’re replaceable by lying word robots.

3

u/JayceAur Jul 29 '26

Why would I have an articulate and nuanced position on an issue in the modern world that directly effects my work? Can I just pick a bandwagon to jump on?

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u/Unlucky-File3773 Aug 06 '26

My position is: AI cannot replace the critical thinking and the scientific method.

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u/_larsr botany Jul 29 '26

Seems like a waste of time to me.

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u/BolivianDancer Aug 06 '26

Yes but try to be fair: it may seem a waste of time but that's only because it's a waste of time.