Scientists have given a human patient a virus designed by artificial intelligence for the first time, in an effort to fight infections that no longer respond to antibiotics .

California-based AI startup Radical Numerics said a patient with a serious bacterial infection received an experimental treatment containing viruses created by its AI model, Omnii-1.

The model designs bacteriophages, or phages, which are viruses that infect and kill bacteria without targeting human cells. Doctors already use phage therapy as an experimental treatment for serious bacterial infections , particularly when patients have few other options.

Rather than searching for a virus that could kill the patient's bacteria, Omnii-1 redesigned part of a virus so it could better recognize and attack the specific bacterial strain causing the infection.…