STAT+: I spoke to Anthropic’s CEO about how AI may affect biotech. Here’s what I learned

STAT PlusOpinionMatt’s Take I spoke to Anthropic’s CEO about how AI may affect biotech. Here’s what I learned Even if the biggest claims about the technology are hype, it may still have an immediate impact Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article By Matthew HerperJuly 6, 2026 Senior Writer, Medicine, Editorial Director of Events Matthew Herper[email protected]Matthew Herper covers medical innovation — both its promise and its perils. The most convincing thing Dario Amodei, the CEO and co-founder of Anthropic, said to me during an on-stage conversation last week was that perhaps his original vision of how AI would change biotech might not start to be visible for a decade. In a 2024 essay, “Machines of Loving Grace,” Amodei had argued that artificial intelligence, and in particular large language models like Anthropic’s Claude, could allow researchers to make what we think of as a decade’s worth of progress every year, covering a century in a decade. Now he admits we’re not there yet. Advertisement “I don’t think that today we can make progress at a rate of ten years per year for a number of reasons,” Amodei said. Those included: Models aren’t as good as they someday will be; researchers need time to figure out how to use these tools; and the infrastructure and regulatory systems will take time to change. Amodei and I were speaking at an Anthropic event where the company, a public-benefit corporation meant to be focused on improving the world, unveiled a product for biologists and pharmaceutical companies called Claude Science. I agreed to interview Amodei on-stage as part of the event, with the stipulation that I would decide on my own what to ask. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, drug development, Pharmaceuticals, STAT+ Submit a correction requestReprints Matthew Herper Senior Writer, Medicine, Editorial Director of Events Matthew Herper covers medical innovation — both its promise and its perils. STAT+ Newsletter Senior writer Adam Feuerstein's unfiltered, uncompromising analysis on the biotech world Recommended Politics July 6, 2026 STAT Plus: GOP lawmakers push Trump’s FDA to make sure clinical trials are diverse D.C. Diagnosis July 2, 2026 STAT Plus: What does DeGette’s loss mean for pharma? Advertisement The Readout July 2, 2026 STAT Plus: Roche drug sets new standard for KRAS-driven lung cancer Adam's Biotech Scorecard July 2, 2026 STAT Plus: Halfway into the year, biotech is booming Health tech July 2, 2026 STAT Plus: A former AI regulator, now in industry, says biopharma is reading FDA’s guidance wrong Subscriber Picks