FBI chief is ‘deeply concerned’ by China’s A.I. program and its potential use in hacking and repression

Talking throughout a panel session on the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, Wray mentioned Beijing’s AI ambitions had been “constructed on prime of large troves of mental property and delicate information that they’ve stolen through the years.”

He mentioned that left unchecked, China may use synthetic intelligence developments to additional its hacking operations, mental property theft and repression of dissidents contained in the nation and past.

“That’s one thing we’re deeply involved about, and I feel everybody right here must be deeply involved about,” he mentioned.

Extra broadly, he mentioned, “AI is a basic instance of a know-how the place I’ve the identical response each time. I feel, ‘Wow, We are able to try this?’ After which I feel, ‘Oh god, they will try this.’”

Such considerations have lengthy been voiced by U.S. officers. In October 2021, as an example, U.S. counterintelligence officers issued warnings about China’s ambitions in AI as a part of a renewed effort to tell enterprise executives, lecturers and native and state authorities officers in regards to the dangers of accepting Chinese language funding or experience in key industries.

Earlier that 12 months, an AI fee led by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt urged the U.S. to spice up its AI expertise to counter China, together with by pursuing “AI-enabled” weapons.

A spokesperson for the Chinese language Embassy in Washington didn’t instantly reply to a request searching for remark Thursday about Wray’s feedback. Beijing has repeatedly accused Washington of fearmongering and attacked U.S. intelligence for its assessments of China.