Biology in the Age of Intelligence
Biology in the Age of Intelligence
DATE
DATE
April 30, 2026
April 30, 2026
FORMAT
FORMAT
Conversation
Conversation
LOCATION
LOCATION
San Francisco
San Francisco
PARTNER
PARTNER
Biohub
Biohub
For most of human history, medicine has been a game of catch-up.
Diseases evolve. Cells adapt. Treatments that work brilliantly for one patient fail inexplicably for another. Despite all the amazing advances in medicine we have witnessed, biology remains stubbornly complex and we have lacked the full set of tools we need to truly understand it.
But that's starting to change. We are entering an amazing new era for biology.
For the first time, we are moving from reacting to biology to genuinely understanding it. Scientists are building AI-driven predictive models from vast biological datasets; gene-editing therapies are leaving the lab for the clinic. We are learning to intervene with a precision we've never had before.
During this edition of The Great Progression event series, veteran tech expert and thought leader Peter Leyden and Big Think are bringing together three scientists at the forefront of this transformation to explore what happens to human health when biology becomes more predictable and programmable.
Our conversation will span three parts:
LEARN — Why is biology still so hard to predict? What makes diseases like cancer so difficult to control, and what have we been missing?
MODEL — How are AI and computational biology making biological systems legible for the first time — allowing us to simulate, test, and anticipate behavior before it happens?
TREAT — How are these insights becoming actual therapies? From precision genomics to gene editing, what's entering the clinic now, and what's coming next?
Joining us for this conversation will be three amazing experts:
Alex Rives - Head of Science at Biohub
Christina Curtis - Professor of Medicine and Genetics at Stanford and Director of the Cancer Systems Biology Lab
Rachel Haurwitz - President and CEO of Caribou Biosciences
This is an exclusive evening at Shack15 in the Ferry Building — one of San Francisco's most remarkable venues. Everyone in the room will be a builder, founder, technologist, or creative with their own stake in where the future is headed.
Join us for a cocktail hour with light bites followed by an intimate conversation with leading experts. The second half is a party, because the best ideas happen when remarkable people get together to talk and share ideas.
We expect strong interest and may hit capacity, so early registration is recommended. RSVPs will be reviewed to ensure a diverse mix of attendees from a variety of industries.
This event is made possible with support from Biohub.
ABOUT BIG THINK
At Big Think, we believe the world becomes a better place when we challenge our minds to think bigger, deeper, and more openly — navigating the convergence of science, technology, history, philosophy, and business with the courage to ask the hardest questions. We look to the thinkers, pioneers, and unconventional minds who aren't satisfied with the status quo, embracing the perspectives that push the boundaries of what we know and reimagine how we live. We're the home for those who crave insight: thoughtful debates, provocative perspectives, and ideas that stretch our understanding — rigorous and accessible, connecting everyone from the curious learner to the seasoned expert with the knowledge to transform their world.
ABOUT PETER LEYDEN
Peter Leyden is a longtime tech expert and thought leader on the future. He came to San Francisco to work with the founders of WIRED magazine at the beginning of the digital revolution and has followed the front edge of technological change every step since—including into the AI revolution today. Leyden is the creator of the new written series The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050 on Substack and a host and curator of this event series.
ABOUT BIOHUB
Biohub is building the first large-scale initiative to combine frontier AI and frontier biology to solve disease. With its compute capacity, AI research and engineering, and state-of-the-art technology for measuring, imaging, and programming biology, Biohub is enabling scientists worldwide to use AI-powered biology to study how cells operate and organize as systems — ultimately understanding why disease happens and how to cure or prevent it. Learn more at biohub.org.
For most of human history, medicine has been a game of catch-up.
Diseases evolve. Cells adapt. Treatments that work brilliantly for one patient fail inexplicably for another. Despite all the amazing advances in medicine we have witnessed, biology remains stubbornly complex and we have lacked the full set of tools we need to truly understand it.
But that's starting to change. We are entering an amazing new era for biology.
For the first time, we are moving from reacting to biology to genuinely understanding it. Scientists are building AI-driven predictive models from vast biological datasets; gene-editing therapies are leaving the lab for the clinic. We are learning to intervene with a precision we've never had before.
During this edition of The Great Progression event series, veteran tech expert and thought leader Peter Leyden and Big Think are bringing together three scientists at the forefront of this transformation to explore what happens to human health when biology becomes more predictable and programmable.
Our conversation will span three parts:
LEARN — Why is biology still so hard to predict? What makes diseases like cancer so difficult to control, and what have we been missing?
MODEL — How are AI and computational biology making biological systems legible for the first time — allowing us to simulate, test, and anticipate behavior before it happens?
TREAT — How are these insights becoming actual therapies? From precision genomics to gene editing, what's entering the clinic now, and what's coming next?
Joining us for this conversation will be three amazing experts:
Alex Rives - Head of Science at Biohub
Christina Curtis - Professor of Medicine and Genetics at Stanford and Director of the Cancer Systems Biology Lab
Rachel Haurwitz - President and CEO of Caribou Biosciences
This is an exclusive evening at Shack15 in the Ferry Building — one of San Francisco's most remarkable venues. Everyone in the room will be a builder, founder, technologist, or creative with their own stake in where the future is headed.
Join us for a cocktail hour with light bites followed by an intimate conversation with leading experts. The second half is a party, because the best ideas happen when remarkable people get together to talk and share ideas.
We expect strong interest and may hit capacity, so early registration is recommended. RSVPs will be reviewed to ensure a diverse mix of attendees from a variety of industries.
This event is made possible with support from Biohub.
ABOUT BIG THINK
At Big Think, we believe the world becomes a better place when we challenge our minds to think bigger, deeper, and more openly — navigating the convergence of science, technology, history, philosophy, and business with the courage to ask the hardest questions. We look to the thinkers, pioneers, and unconventional minds who aren't satisfied with the status quo, embracing the perspectives that push the boundaries of what we know and reimagine how we live. We're the home for those who crave insight: thoughtful debates, provocative perspectives, and ideas that stretch our understanding — rigorous and accessible, connecting everyone from the curious learner to the seasoned expert with the knowledge to transform their world.
ABOUT PETER LEYDEN
Peter Leyden is a longtime tech expert and thought leader on the future. He came to San Francisco to work with the founders of WIRED magazine at the beginning of the digital revolution and has followed the front edge of technological change every step since—including into the AI revolution today. Leyden is the creator of the new written series The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050 on Substack and a host and curator of this event series.
ABOUT BIOHUB
Biohub is building the first large-scale initiative to combine frontier AI and frontier biology to solve disease. With its compute capacity, AI research and engineering, and state-of-the-art technology for measuring, imaging, and programming biology, Biohub is enabling scientists worldwide to use AI-powered biology to study how cells operate and organize as systems — ultimately understanding why disease happens and how to cure or prevent it. Learn more at biohub.org.