Russia has the capability to develop an “offensive” artificial intelligence [AI] threat, with their scientists ranking among the best in the world, according to a former CIA agent.
Laura Ballman spoke to GB News about the threat the country poses after Vladimir Putin set out his stall in the AI arms race.
The Russian President spoke out on the need to ensure that AI does not become a Western “monopoly”.
The former CIA agent told GB News presenter Jacob Rees-Mogg that should AI become a priority issue for Putin, his army of tech experts will cause problems for the West.
Laura Ballman spoke to GB News about the threat Putin poses
PA / GBNEWS
“It does (have the capability), I would like to say it doesn’t”, she said.
“Consider the benignly titled Russian Internet Research Agency, this is not just a farm of cyber trolls.
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“That’s also where research is done into AI. We interact with AI every day, but on the other hand, we should be thinking about its potential uses as an offensive weapon.
“Six months ago, Elon Musk and several other leading technologists wrote a public letter calling for a six month pause in AI research.
“It wasn’t paused, but it certainly called attention to the issue. I can tell you Russian scientists are among the top scientists and researchers in the world.
“Their government is atrocious. Their government steals their work, so whether or not their economy is doing well or not is pretty immaterial.”
Jacob Rees-Mogg spoke to ex-CIA agent Laura Ballman
GB NEWS
Putin has warned the West currently holds a “dangerous” dominance of the technology, with chatbots like OpenAI’s ChatGPT “cancelling” Russian culture.
Addressing an AI conference in Moscow last month, he said Russian investment in development of the technology was being increased across all sectors.
“I hope we will be more active in this area”, he said.
“When I say ‘we’, I am referring not only to the government but also to the regions and industries, and individual plants”, he said.
Ballman is concerned about Russian development in the sphere, warning that they, along with China and Iran, pose the greatest threat to the West.
“China is phenomenal at this”, she said.
“I would say Russia, China and Iran are the greatest cyber threats to the West.
“The UK, EU and United States.”