British intelligence chiefs warn AI abuse poses “significant security threat”

The Times reported on the 11th (local time) that heads of British intelligence agencies warned the government that artificial intelligence (AI) was a serious national security threat.

Ken McCallum, Director of the Domestic Security Service (MI5), Blaise Metrelwelly, Director of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), and Anne Kist Butler, Director of the General Intelligence and Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), attended a cabinet meeting on the 8th of last month and reported on national security.

Although the overall security situation was discussed, concerns that not only terrorist groups or reclusive dangerous individuals, but also hostile countries such as Russia and Iran could use AI to harm the country were discussed in detail.

In particular, Director McCallum reportedly told cabinet members, "This is the biggest problem you need to think about."

Director McCallum also said in his annual speech in October last year, “Potential terrorists are already trying to use AI for propaganda, weapons research, and target surveillance,” and “state actors are also using AI to manipulate elections or elaborate cyber attacks.”

The Times pointed out that this warning came amid growing concerns about the British government's lack of AI-related security preparedness.

One cabinet member compared the current situation, where warning lights continue to sound but the government takes minimal measures, to be like the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic or the 2008 global financial crisis.

This summer, the Government Cyber ​​Coordination Center held several 'hackathons' to test the government's defense capabilities against cyberattacks using cutting-edge AI models, and 407 vulnerabilities were discovered in 9 government agencies. One of them was pointed out as a serious vulnerability that could allow attackers to change computer code and affect the operation of core digital services.

The cost of this test hacking was around 13,000 pounds (about 23.11 million won). This is an example that shows that hostile forces have the potential to cause great harm to the country at relatively low cost.