An AI-driven cyber-attack like the OpenAI breach of Australia’s healthcare system is likely, “if not inevitable”, in the UK, according to a senior minister. Kanishka Narayan, the UK AI minister, indicated that the British government’s own cyber defences would be bypassed by a technology that has developed highly sophisticated skills in cybersecurity. In a speech on Monday, Narayan said an incident in June when an OpenAI agent – a computer program acting autonomously – infiltrated Medicare, Australia’s universal healthcare system, could be repeated in the UK.
Speaking at a science and tech hub at Imperial College London, Narayan said the security minister, Dan Jarvis, would lead a government programme to strengthen against cyber-attacks, including from AI. Narayan spoke before a parliamentary hearing on AI safety on Tuesday into the issue. Senior figures from OpenAI and Anthropic will be among those giving evidence to MPs on the business, innovation, science and trade committee.
They will also be joined by the head of the UK’s AI Security Institute, Henry de Zoete. Narayan confirmed that the institute would gain access to advanced AI models before they were released, after the White House had reportedly placed restrictions on their availability. The minister added that leading AI companies must “listen” to warnings of safety risks posed by their technology – and not release models if they carried a serious threat.
Investigate unexpected behaviours. And if you can’t adequately control the risks, do not release the system,” he said.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
