The thesis presented at WSJ Tech
OpenAI co-founder and president Greg Brockman, speaking at the Wall Street Journal's technology summit, argued that advances in AI in biology could lead, at an unspecified future date, to making death a matter of choice. According to the source, Brockman framed the issue as an open question: people suffer, and asking whether death could become optional is legitimate, and such developments should not be ruled out.
The novelty does not consist in an announced scientific result, but in a prediction made by a senior figure at one of the leading AI companies. It is a statement, not a demonstration: the material does not indicate timelines, methods or evidence supporting the hypothesis of death becoming a choice.
The 12-18 month horizon
The most concrete part of the remarks concerns the timelines for medical applications. Brockman said that within 12-18 months AI should drive tangible results in biology, health and the treatment of diseases, with real-world effects. The deadline is his prediction, not a verified milestone.
In support of the picture, the source cites recent developments: language models for biology such as Evo and Evo 2 used to write new genetic code; multi-agent frameworks such as Robin and GPT-Rosalind that, in peer-reviewed evaluations, reportedly examined hundreds of studies, cross-referenced CRISPR maps and proposed therapies and drug candidates, with laboratory validation; laboratory robots that adjust experiment parameters in real time thanks to sensors and AI agents. These are activities described as having already occurred, but the material does not detail their scope or limitations.
The parallel with Musk and the unresolved issues
The source notes a consonance with Elon Musk, who in January 2026, speaking about Neuralink, had described longevity as a solvable problem, positing a biological clock that synchronizes the body's aging and a modifiable death program; on October 30 he had then spoken of an imminent era of longevity. Brockman did not cite Musk, and the proximity is the source's interpretation.
The technical basis of the hypothesis, the timelines beyond 12-18 months and the ethical and regulatory implications of death becoming a choice remain to be clarified. The material contains no independent confirmation of the predictions nor details on how OpenAI intends to pursue them.
