A vaccine designed with artificial intelligence to protect against a broad family of coronaviruses produced a safe immune response in a first-in-human trial of 39 volunteers conducted by researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Southampton. The candidate targets shared features across Sarbecoviruses—including SARS‑CoV‑2—using a computer-designed “super‑antigen,” and was delivered via a needle-free micro‑jet injector. Scientists said the approach could reduce the need for frequent vaccine updates and bolster preparedness for future outbreaks, though larger, more diverse trials are still required. The findings, published in the Journal of Infection, arrive amid ongoing debate over AI’s role in medicine, with experts citing risks of bias, privacy concerns and accountability.
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