Ginkgo Recasts Biology Contest Matching Stanford Scientist With OpenAI Agents

Ginkgo Bioworks has postponed and recast a planned biology competition that would have matched Stanford bioengineer Michael Jewett against OpenAI's AI agents, dropping the original human-versus-machine framing after concerns about AI-driven science intensified. The event was designed as a three-round contest at Ginkgo's 15,000-square-foot robotic lab in Boston, with Jewett allowed to use commercial AI tools while OpenAI's side used its own advanced, unreleased systems, but the planned Sept. 14 start was delayed and the initial "Mike Versus the Machines" concept was scrapped in favor of a less theatrical format for the planned event.