Anthropic's AI biolab finds a new CRISPR-like system

Where it stands as of Sep 26, 2026

Anthropic's AI biolab reported that agents mining viral and phage genomes for new biology surfaced a previously undescribed CRISPR-like DNA system, an early sign that an AI research agent can produce a genuinely novel finding rather than just synthesize known results. Nature covered the find on 2026-09-26, noting outside researchers still need to confirm it functions as claimed. It is not yet known how many of the AI biolab's other proposed discoveries will hold up under wet-lab testing.