At a NATO conference in London, UK cabinet minister Pat McFadden warned of Russia and other adversaries using artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance cyber-attacks against the UK. He announced the creation of the “Laboratory for AI Security Research” (LASR) in London, funded with £8.2 million. The lab aims to track emerging AI-related threats, in cooperation with UK intelligence agency GCHQ and other government bodies.
McFadden highlighted Russia’s increased cyberattacks on the UK, targeting media, telecommunications, political institutions, and energy infrastructure. He warned that AI could be weaponized to improve cyber tools, with a specific risk of attacks on the UK’s electricity grid.
McFadden also noted that Russia’s cyberattacks have extended to NATO allies supporting Ukraine. He further emphasized that North Korea was the first to use AI for hacking, and other nations may follow suit, escalating the cyber threat landscape.
