Stanford's Anshul Kundaje Skeptical of 'Universal Virtual Cell': Models Must Be Grounded in Real Biology
anshulkundaje · x · 2026-10-08
Stanford professor Anshul Kundaje voiced strong skepticism about vague terms like "universal virtual cell", arguing model building must be grounded in real biological systems—ones with varying amounts of prior knowledge and varying degrees of experimental tractability and malleability.
He added that ideal data and experiment design depends on the specificity of the questions asked: the list of concrete questions and systems can be huge, but clarity and specificity are key. A notable critique of grandiose AI-for-Science narratives.
Related event: Stanford Professor Questions Universal Virtual Cell(3 posts)→
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