Representatives from MI6 and the CIA have revealed that the agencies have deployed generative AI to enhance intelligence activities.
In a joint opinion piecepointed out to the agencies the “sea of data” they must sift through to identify and address security risks.
The intelligence chiefs describe the “accelerated” challenges posed by technological advances, with an “unprecedented array of threats” facing the two countries. The pair identify the war in Ukraine as the first of its kind to combine open-source warfare with “advanced battlefield technology” [..] “high and low sophistication of cyber warfare, social media, open-source intelligence”
A special relationship
The move may not come as much of a surprise, as Microsoft has confirmed it designed generative AI models specifically for use by intelligence agencies. For example, the large language model developed for data analysis uses an ‘air gap’ to ensure separation from insecure internet connections.
The article noted that China’s rise to power is the greatest intelligence and geopolitical challenge of the 21st century for both the CIA and SIS. Both agencies have reorganized their services to reflect this new priority, the article said.
This change of course is supported by foreign policy moves, particularly in the US. the imposition of restrictions aimed at curbing China’s technological power.
With cyberattacks from both Russia and China on the rise, leaders affirm the strategy, noting: “We’re training AI to protect and red-team our own operations to ensure we can still maintain secrecy when needed. We’re using cloud technologies to help our brilliant data scientists get the most out of our data, and we’re partnering with the most innovative companies in the US, UK, and around the world.”
The partners obviously do not confirm the exact applications of their algorithms or AI activities, but it is clear that technology will play a crucial role in intelligence services and government policy in the future.
Via Financial Times
