FBI Director Christopher Wray has expressed deep concern over China’s artificial intelligence (AI) program, highlighting the country’s ambitions in AI. Wray made the comment at the Security Week Conference in Washington, D.C. on April 10.
Wray opened his speech by delving into the importance of AI and the many use cases for this technology, from medicine and transportation to banking and law enforcement. Wray mentioned the promise of AI and the “explosive” progress in this sector, as the global AI market is expected to reach $97.9 billion by 2023.
However, Wray noted that such advancements also pose “challenges and serious dangers” and specifically highlighted China’s AI ambitions, which he described as a “serious counterintelligence threat.”
The FBI director expressed concerns that China’s AI program could be used to support efforts to steal proprietary technology and U.S. trade secrets or gain an advantage over the United States. He also warned against potential malicious uses of AI-powered tools, such as hacking and cybercrime, as well as the threat of AI-driven terrorism.
The U.S. government is also concerned about the country’s potentially leading role in military applications of AI, especially when it comes to cyber warfare, espionage, and related activities. Wray noted that while the Chinese government has outlined its ambitions in the AI sector, the same is not true when it comes to espionage.
“At least when it comes to China, we haven’t seen any meaningful movement in this arena,” Wray said.
The FBI is already taking steps to track China’s activities in the AI sector and has launched several initiatives to measure the impact of AI technology and to develop solutions for countering cyber espionage.
“I'm deeply concerned about the trajectory of the current AI revolution and where that may lead us in the future,” Wray said. “Make no mistake, this is one of the most pressing challenges we face as a nation in the years to come.”
This Cyber News was published on www.securityweek.com. Publication date: Tue, 24 Jan 2023 03:31:02 +0000