AI could 'change the stakes' on bioweapons: UK spy chief

MI5 chief Ken McCallum warned on Tuesday that artificial intelligence could "change the stakes" on bioweapons and increase security threats to the UK. The head of Britain's domestic spy agency spoke of the impact AI has on the cybersecurity contest between attackers and defenders in his annual threat briefing. McCallum announced that MI5 had launched a new AI Threat Assessment Centre, drawing expertise from other bodies to separate bluster from reality.

He noted that human history has given no experience of facing an actor smarter than we are, highlighting the novelty of this situation. The agency has already uncovered suspects using AI to improve reconnaissance efforts and attack means, including with AI-enabled drones. McCallum revealed that MI5 is devoting more resources to combating foreign state threats than ever since the Cold War.

He warned that Russia remains the number one aggressor, while the Kremlin's global toolkit is weak four years after its war on Ukraine. Iran was also seeking to expand hybrid warfare, with more than 50 arrests made in Iran-linked operations over the past year. McCallum vowed that those seeking to cause mayhem on British streets will face an unflinching response.