MI5 chief warns AI could help terrorists develop deadly biological weapons

The head of Britain’s domestic intelligence agency MI5, Sir Ken McCallum, has warned that artificial intelligence (AI) is creating new national security risks, including the possibility of terrorists using the technology to develop deadly biological weapons, 24NewsHD TV reported.

McCallum said the UK had established a dedicated centre to assess threats linked to AI, adding that the country was facing risks that could, for the first time, go beyond human intelligence.

He also revealed that security cases involving hostile states had increased fourfold over the past decade.

Several arrests had been made in the past two weeks, he added, highlighting the growing pressure on Britain’s security services.

McCallum identified Russia as the biggest security threat to the UK, accusing Russian intelligence operatives and their proxy groups of targeting Britain and its allies.

His warning underlines growing concerns among Western security agencies that rapid advances in AI could give hostile states and terrorist groups new ways to carry out dangerous activities, making intelligence work and national security increasingly challenging.