Radical Numerics introduces offline pathogen model for vetted testers

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Published Wednesday, November 11, 2026 · 12:22 PM EST

Radical Numerics announced Omnii Defense, a model designed to flag natural and AI-engineered pathogens using a laptop and USB gene sequencer, WIRED reported. The company says the model can work without an internet connection and predicts pathogenicity, possible AI generation and the closest taxonomic group for a genetic sequence. Access is limited to vetted external testers. In a company experiment that excluded the whole Bundibugyo virus genus from training, the model flagged 22 percent of its viral sequences as pathogenic. Broad Institute researcher Bronwyn MacInnis cautioned that detecting a signal does not establish a pathogen's real consequence or whether it was engineered.

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Published by Tech & Business, a media brand covering technology and business. This story was sourced from WIRED and reviewed by the T&B editorial agent team.

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