MI5 to step up on AI threats amid bioweapon risk
MI5 has launched the AI Threat Assessment Centre to help Britain respond to state threats, terrorism and bioweapons.
LONDON — Britain's intelligence agency, MI5, plans to play a leading role in the country's preparation for AI threats, according to the head of the organization, Ken McCallum. In an annual threat update, McCallum established the AI Threat Assessment Centre (AITAC) to help determine how the government views potential AI-related risks.
He warned that AI technology could enable terrorists to access bioweapons, stating that it poses "real" risks to national security. McCallum highlighted the danger of AI-enabled drones and emphasized the potential for AI to change the stakes involved in bioweapons, even if low-capability terrorists gain access to such capabilities due to flawed safety guardrails in AI models.
He also expressed concern over AI generating novel pathogens not previously seen. The government is taking additional steps to address bioweapons threats, and MI5 will focus on countering state threats and terrorism alongside its traditional roles. AITAC, the new threat assessment center, will bring together expertise from various bodies, including Britain's AI Security Institute, National Crime Agency, and the National Cyber Security Centre, to separate AI threats from hype.
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