National security threat

Killer drones, cyber attacks and targeted propaganda will undermine national security as 'malicious AI' grows increasingly powerful, warn experts

Terrorists, rogue states and criminals could soon use artificial intelligence to undermine national security, warns a new report.

Superhuman hacking, surveillance and persuasion are just some of the terrifying ways 'malicious' AI could threaten our freedom.

In a 100-page report, 26 AI experts have outlined the security implications of 'emerging technologies'.

They predict 'bots' to interfere with news gathering and penetrate social media among a host of plausible scenarios in the next five to 10 years.

'Artificial intelligence is a game changer and this report has imagined what the world could look like in the next five to ten years,' said Dr Seán Ó hÉigeartaigh, co-author and Executive Director of Cambridge University's Centre for the Study of Existential Risk.

'We live in a world that could become fraught with day-to-day hazards from the misuse of AI and we need to take ownership of the problems - because the risks are real. 

'There are choices that we need to make now, and our report is a call-to-action for governments, institutions and individuals across the globe. 

'It is troubling, but necessary, to consider the implications of superhuman hacking, surveillance, persuasion, and physical target identification.'