At the SXSW conference, Colossal CEO Ben Lamm addressed concerns about the company's intentions, assuring audiences that it has no plans to create a real-life Jurassic Park. Instead, Lamm emphasized the need for a "de-extinction toolkit" to undo the harm caused by human activities. The startup, founded in 2023, aims to bring back extinct species using genetic editing techniques, with the wooly mammoth, dodo bird, and thylacine (Tasmanian tiger) being top priorities.

Lamm's statement comes as a response to potential misconceptions about the company's goals. He stressed that Colossal's focus is on developing a "de-extinction" toolkit, rather than reviving dinosaurs, which is not possible due to the lack of usable dinosaur DNA sources. The CEO's vision is to create a future where humans can coexist with previously extinct species, citing a moral and ethical obligation to pursue such technologies.

Colossal has made significant progress in its de-extinction efforts, with plans to release Tasmanian tiger joeys back into their original habitat after a period of captivity. The company is also working towards introducing woolly mammoth hybrid calves to the Arctic tundra by 2028. These ambitious projects have resonated with investors, with Colossal raising hundreds of millions of dollars in venture capital and currently valued at $10.2 billion.

In addition to its core de-extinction projects, Colossal has spun out two companies focused on specific applications, with a third yet to be announced. Lamm believes that there is significant potential for revenue generation through the "re-wilding" of species and carbon sequestration, estimating that billions of dollars can be made in these areas.

One of Colossal's recent high-profile projects is the development of a gene-edited "woolly mouse," which exhibits characteristics inspired by woolly mammoths. While some experts have questioned the significance of this project, Lamm argues that it validates Colossal's work on wooly mammoth de-extinction, demonstrating the effectiveness of their genetic editing techniques.

Lamm also touched on the role of AI in the future of biotechnology, predicting that the combination of access to computing, AI, and synthetic biology will be a powerful and potentially "dangerous" set of technologies. However, he also painted an idealistic picture of the future, where synthetic biology advances will lead to breakthroughs in cancer treatment, plastic removal from oceans, and widespread access to clean water.

The CEO's vision extends beyond de-extinction, with predictions that humanity will "achieve longevity escape velocity" in the next 20 years, adding years to the average human life expectancy and making immortality a theoretical possibility. Lamm also proposed a "Manhattan Project-scale project" to create "bio vaults" for endangered species, which would involve backing up genetic species data and creating stem and egg cells. He mentioned that he has discussed this idea with a country that seems enthusiastic about it, although he did not disclose the country's name.

Finally, Lamm highlighted Colossal's collaborations with governments, stating that the company meets quarterly with U.S. government agencies and has received investments from the U.S. government, likely in the form of grants. As Colossal continues to push the boundaries of biotechnology, its ambitious plans and collaborations will be closely watched by the scientific community and the public alike.