UK in ‘new era of national security’ as AI supercharges rising threats, security chief warns

The United Kingdom is experiencing a "new era of national security," according to the head of MI5, Ken McCallum. In his annual speech outlining the threats facing the country, McCallum warned that a "more contested era" has replaced the stability of the post-Cold War years. This new era is characterized by an equal scale of terrorism and state threats, which is a significant shift compared to recent years.

McCallum emphasized that AI is "already supercharging" some of these threats, particularly in cybersecurity. He also expressed concerns about the potential for destructive bioweapons, though such developments have not yet materialized. The technology could enable comparatively low-sophistication actors to gain an AI-enhanced capability, which is a serious concern if effective "guardrails" are not put in place.

McCallum highlighted that state threats have grown to eclipse the Cold War era, with MI5 devoting more resources to countering state threats than during the Cold War. Over the last decade, MI5's state threats caseload has quadrupled. Russia remains the top threat, McCallum said, pointing to Moscow's aggressive efforts to destabilize European countries through hybrid warfare, such as cyber attacks and the use of explosive-laden drones.

Britain's Prime Minister has accused Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of directing a suspected plot targeting UK forces. Several men, including a British-Iranian dual national, were arrested and later released on bail. McCallum also accused China of conducting espionage in the UK, citing an alert issued to the academic community and the first-ever convictions for national security offences connected to Beijing.

Despite these threats, McCallum stressed that terrorism remains a top concern for MI5 and that an attack is highly likely.