Anthropic brings AI into the wet lab

The facility follows the company’s April acquisition of Coefficient Bio, a stealth biotech firm. Eric Kauderer-Abrams, who leads the life sciences division, maintains that physical lab work remains an essential hurdle for AI-driven biological research. Despite the company’s high-profile partnerships with pharmaceutical giants like Novo Nordisk, Anthropic insists its internal facility avoids direct competition with drug discovery efforts to maintain its client relationships.

This move has drawn skepticism from industry figures. Investor Chamath Palihapitiya highlighted the tension between the company's vocal warnings about AI-driven bioterrorism and its decision to build a physical lab in San Francisco. To manage these concerns, Anthropic launched a Life Sciences Verification Program this week, restricting access to its most powerful models to vetted researchers. The initiative arrives as internal pressure mounts, following the resignation of researcher Jacob Coxon and public declarations from leadership that AI poses a significant existential risk within the next decade.