OpenAI has introduced GPT-Rosalind, a new domain-specific AI model designed to support research in biology, drug discovery, and translational medicine. The model is being released as a research preview through a controlled access program, reflecting both its advanced capabilities and the sensitivity of its potential applications.

GPT-Rosalind is built to address one of the most complex challenges in life sciences: the fragmented and time-intensive workflows that underpin early-stage discovery. Developing a new drug can take 10 to 15 years, with early research decisions having compounding effects on downstream outcomes. The model is designed to help scientists navigate large volumes of literature, datasets, and experimental variables more efficiently, while also generating and testing new hypotheses.

The system is available through ChatGPT, Codex, and the API for qualified enterprise users. OpenAI is also launching a Life Sciences research plugin for Codex, enabling integration with more than 50 scientific databases and tools. Early collaborators include major pharmaceutical and research organizations such as Amgen, Moderna, Allen Institute, and Thermo Fisher Scientific.

Built for Complex Scientific Workflows

Unlike general-purpose AI models, GPT-Rosalind is optimized for reasoning across specialized domains including chemistry, genomics, protein engineering, and disease biology. It is designed to assist with multi-step research tasks such as literature review, experimental planning, sequence analysis, and data interpretation.

OpenAI reports that the model shows improved performance on benchmarks related to biochemical reasoning, including protein structure analysis, phylogenetics, and experimental design. It also demonstrates stronger ability to use external tools and databases within complex workflows, a critical requirement for real-world scientific research.

In industry evaluations, GPT-Rosalind achieved leading results on bioinformatics benchmarks such as BixBench and outperformed earlier models on several tasks in LABBench2, including molecular cloning design. In collaboration with Dyno Therapeutics, the model also ranked above most human experts on certain RNA prediction tasks.

Controlled Access and Research Integration

Given the potential risks associated with advanced biological research tools, OpenAI is deploying GPT-Rosalind through a “trusted access” model. Organizations must meet criteria related to legitimate scientific use, governance, and security controls before gaining access. The rollout initially focuses on enterprise users in the United States.

The accompanying Life Sciences plugin provides an orchestration layer for scientific workflows, connecting researchers to public datasets, literature sources, and domain-specific tools. This allows the model to move beyond static responses and actively support research processes such as protein structure lookup, sequence search, and dataset discovery.

OpenAI said the system was developed with enhanced security measures and is intended for use in controlled research environments. During the preview phase, usage will not consume standard API credits, though safeguards are in place to prevent misuse.

The release marks the first step in a broader effort to build AI systems tailored to scientific discovery. OpenAI says future iterations will expand the model’s capabilities for long-horizon, tool-intensive workflows, with ongoing collaborations across academia, biotech, and national laboratories aimed at advancing areas such as protein and catalyst design.

A research team from Nanyang Technological University has developed a new AI-powered biochip capable of rapidly detecting microRNAs, tiny genetic markers linked to diseases including cancer and cardiovascular conditions. The system, described in the journal Advanced Materials, combines nanophotonic sensing with automated image analysis to significantly reduce diagnostic time.

The platform can analyze a small blood sample and detect multiple microRNA biomarkers in about 20 minutes, compared to several hours required by traditional methods such as PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Researchers say the system achieves high sensitivity and accuracy, detecting extremely low concentrations of microRNAs, even down to a few molecules.

The work was led by Associate Professor Chen Yu-Cheng, who said the goal is to create a scalable diagnostic platform capable of screening multiple disease markers quickly and accurately. Initial testing focused on microRNAs linked to non-small cell lung cancer, demonstrating the system’s ability to identify multiple targets simultaneously without complex sample preparation.

How the Technology Works

At the core of the system is a nanophotonic chip embedded with nanocavities, microscopic structures that enhance fluorescent signals when microRNAs bind to specific probes. These cavities amplify weak signals, making it possible to detect even single molecules.

The chip is paired with an AI imaging system that captures and analyzes thousands of signals in a single snapshot. Using a deep learning model based on Mask R-CNN, the system automatically identifies and classifies microRNA signals, removing the need for manual counting and reducing the risk of human error.

Unlike conventional approaches, which often require amplification or labeled probes, the NTU platform directly measures microRNAs in liquid samples. The researchers report accuracy levels exceeding 99 percent across test scenarios, including experiments using both cancer cell extracts and synthetic samples.

Toward Faster, Scalable Diagnostics

The team has also built a compact prototype that includes a camera and a mobile application for real-time analysis. This setup could support point-of-care testing, where results are generated quickly without the need for specialized laboratory infrastructure.

Researchers believe the platform could eventually be adapted for large-scale screening, potentially analyzing hundreds or thousands of biomarkers from blood, saliva, or urine samples. This could open the door to earlier disease detection, better monitoring of treatment response, and more personalized healthcare.

Independent experts note that microRNAs have long been considered promising biomarkers but have been difficult to measure reliably due to their small size and similarity. A system that can accurately detect multiple microRNAs could improve clinical decision-making, particularly in oncology and chronic disease management.

The project is supported by Singapore’s research funding programs, and the team has filed a technology disclosure through NTU’s commercialization arm. Future work will focus on clinical validation and scaling the platform for broader use in healthcare and pharmaceutical research.

Anthropic has begun rolling out identity verification requirements for users of its Claude platform, signaling a stronger push toward safety, compliance, and misuse prevention as AI systems become more powerful. The new process will apply selectively, with users prompted to verify their identity when accessing certain features or during routine integrity checks.

The verification system is powered by Persona, a third-party provider specializing in digital identity checks. Users are required to submit a government-issued photo ID and, in some cases, complete a live selfie capture using a phone or webcam. The process typically takes a few minutes and is designed to confirm identity without collecting unnecessary data.

Anthropic says the verification rollout is tied to broader efforts to enforce its usage policies and comply with legal obligations, particularly as advanced AI capabilities raise concerns about misuse. The company emphasized that verification data is used solely for identity confirmation and not for training AI models or other secondary purposes.

Accepted identification includes passports, driver’s licenses, and national ID cards, provided they are physical, valid, and clearly legible. The system explicitly rejects digital IDs, photocopies, or non-government credentials such as student cards or employee badges. Failed verification attempts can result from poor image quality, expired documents, or technical issues, though users are allowed multiple retries.

From a data handling perspective, Anthropic positions itself as the data controller, while Persona processes the information on its behalf. Importantly, identity documents and selfies are stored on Persona’s systems rather than Anthropic’s infrastructure. The company says all data is encrypted in transit and at rest, and Persona is contractually restricted from using the data beyond verification and fraud prevention purposes.

Anthropic also clarified that identity data will not be shared with third parties for marketing or advertising. Access is limited to verification and compliance workflows, with exceptions only in cases where legal obligations require disclosure.

Accounts may still face suspension or bans after verification if they violate platform rules, including repeated misuse, operating from unsupported regions, or breaching terms of service. Users who believe enforcement actions are incorrect can submit appeals for review.

Why This Matters

Identity verification marks a shift toward stricter governance in AI platforms. As models gain more advanced capabilities, companies face increasing pressure to prevent harmful use cases, particularly in areas like cybersecurity, fraud, and misinformation.

For businesses and developers, this introduces an additional compliance step that may affect onboarding and user experience. However, it could also improve trust in AI systems by reducing anonymous misuse and enforcing accountability.

For users, the tradeoff is clear: access to more powerful features may require sharing sensitive identity information, even if safeguards are in place.

Context

Anthropic’s move aligns with a broader industry trend toward tighter controls on AI access. Competitors like OpenAI have also explored verification, tiered access, and usage restrictions for advanced AI tools.

The rollout comes alongside Anthropic’s increasing focus on safety frameworks, including recent efforts to limit high-risk capabilities and introduce safeguards in newer models. As regulators worldwide examine AI risks more closely, identity verification may become a standard requirement across leading platforms.