MI5 chief warns AI supercharges terrorism and state threats

MI5 Director General Sir Ken McCallum has warned that artificial intelligence is "supercharging" national security threats, ranging from cyber-attacks to the potential development of bioweapons. Speaking at his annual threat update at Thames House in London, McCallum announced the creation of a new AI Threat Assessment Centre to help distinguish "the bluster from the realities" of these emerging risks.

AI and Bioweapon Risks

McCallum identified the potential for AI to assist in the creation of biological weapons as the misuse case he attaches "greatest weight" to, although he noted this threat is "not yet realised." He warned that AI could enable "dangerous knowledge to get into the hands of people we would all rather didn't have that knowledge" or even "generate a number of pathogens not previously seen."

The MI5 chief emphasized that while guardrails on AI technology are intended to prevent misuse, there is a risk that "comparatively low sophistication actors may have a capability uplift in the AI era if these guardrails do not function as intended." He also highlighted that terrorists are already using AI to improve "reconnaissance and attack methodologies," with "AI-enabled drones adding a new twist."

To address these challenges, MI5 is launching the AI Threat Assessment Centre. According to The Scotsman, this centre will work with the National Crime Agency and the National Cyber Security Centre, which is part of GCHQ. McCallum stated that the UK Intelligence Community is working closely with the UK's AI Security Institute to "take them on."

State Threats and Hybrid Warfare

Beyond AI, McCallum reported that threats from hostile states have quadrupled in the last decade. He stated that MI5 is now "devoting more resource to countering state threats than during the Cold War," with terrorism and state threat missions now being "pretty much of equal scale."

Russia was identified as "aggressor number one," with McCallum accusing Moscow of waging hybrid warfare that includes cyber-attacks and sabotage. He noted that Russia's traditional covert footprint has been "eviscerated by almost 1,000 expulsions since the invasion" of Ukraine, leading the Kremlin to rely on paying criminals to carry out operations. McCallum cited examples such as a cyber-attack on Polish energy infrastructure and an attempt to use an explosive-laden drone to destroy a cargo plane in Germany.

Iran was also highlighted as a significant threat, with more than 50 arrests in the UK in the past year linked to Iranian activities. McCallum warned of a "major shift this year in Iranian ambitions to come at harder targets, like military sites," referencing the incident at RAF Fairford in September. He stated that the Fairford incident was "not unique" and that Iran has shown interest in other bases, though he declined to specify which ones.

Rise in Extreme Right-Wing Terrorism

McCallum described the shift from radicalised right-wing sentiment to violence as "the most marked trend" in MI5's caseload over the past year. He noted an increase in cases where "extremist versions of anti-immigration and anti-Muslim grievance are tipping into terrorist intent."

The MI5 chief revealed that the agency had investigated a "radicalised extreme right-wing 13-year-old here in the UK," an investigation that helped an international partner prevent a lethal attack on their soil. He also referenced the killing of former minister Ann Widdecombe as part of a "concerning trend of violence targeted at political figures, religious or community groups."

Why it matters

The announcement of the AI Threat Assessment Centre marks a significant shift in how UK intelligence agencies are responding to the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. By acknowledging that AI can lower the barrier to entry for sophisticated attacks, including the potential creation of novel pathogens, MI5 is signaling that the nature of national security threats is evolving beyond traditional state and terrorist capabilities. The integration of AI into both defensive and offensive strategies by hostile actors requires a "whole-of-society effort" to build resilience, according to McCallum.

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Sources

• theguardian.com: Rightwing extremists increasingly likely to consider terrorist attacks, MI5 chief says | UK security and counter-terrorism | The Guardian
• bbc.com: MI5 tackling more state threats than during Cold War, warns intelligence chief
• cnn.com: UK in ‘new era of national security’ as AI supercharges rising threats, security chief warns | CNN
• bbntimes.com: MI5 Chief Warns of Threats to UK From Russia, Iran and AI: 'We Have Entered a New Era of National Security'
• scotsman.com: AI could give terrorists access to bioweapons if guardrails fail – MI5 chief warns
• aol.co.uk: MI5 chief warns terrorists could get their hands on 'new' biological weapons - AOL

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.