February 13, 2026

America’s Key to Biotechnology Leadership? AI-Ready Biodata.

By: Sam Howell and Michelle Holko

This article was originally published in Just Security.

From strengthening armor for U.S. warfighters to patching supply chain vulnerabilities, the convergence of AI and biotechnology could redefine U.S. national and economic security. Dramatic technical advancements in both fields mean that the building blocks of life, such as DNA and RNA, are understood and programmable. Humans now have the tools to shape life, carrying the potential to create better crops, livestock, materials, medicines, and manufacturing. The AI-biotechnology nexus stands to promote food and energy security, power the economy, safeguard the environment, and protect Americans from future pandemics and biothreats.

To realize the broad potential of biotechnology, the United States needs diversity in biodata at multiple levels: genetic, geographic, environmental, and experimental.

Seizing this potential, however, will hinge on improving the United States’ access to high-quality, secure biological data (biodata) designed specifically for AI. Existing biodata repositories lack the consistency, metadata, and trust needed to develop tailored AI models. To lead in biotechnology, the United States must modernize its data infrastructure and create biodata built for the AI future. U.S. leadership in AI-enabled biotechnology will depend less on new algorithms than on whether the United States treats biodata as secure national infrastructure.

Read the full article on Just Security.

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