Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven robots have the potential to launch devastating attacks on the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), with consequences on par with the COVID-19 pandemic, a cybersecurity expert has cautioned. Ian Hogarth, a member of the UK’s AI task force, established to safeguard against AI-related risks, has raised concerns that advancing AI technology could lead to attacks capable of crippling the NHS, even likening it to a “biological attack.”
Hogarth emphasized the rapid evolution of AI technology, highlighting how it could significantly reduce barriers to cyberattacks and cybercrimes. The UK’s AI task force, bolstered by £100 million in government funding, has primarily focused on safety research to develop practical tools akin to ChatGPT.
Hogarth, often referred to as the UK’s “AI tsar,” stressed the importance of international collaboration in addressing AI risks, including involving countries like China. Drawing parallels with the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, he stated, “It’s just like pandemics. It’s the sort of thing where you can’t go it alone.” Augmented national security risks, in particular, demand a global approach.
He pointed out that the tech industry’s increasing attention to AI has led to rapid advancements but has also highlighted its dangers. Hogarth cited the 2017 WannaCry cyberattack on the NHS, which resulted in the cancellation of 19,000 patient appointments and incurred a £92 million ($114 million) cost to the healthcare system. He argued that the relentless progress in AI technology could facilitate similar attacks in the future.
“A significant number of technology experts are actively developing AI systems capable of code-writing at a superhuman level,” Hogarth noted. “This technology is improving daily, fundamentally lowering the barriers to carrying out cyberattacks and cybercrimes.”
In conclusion, the increasing capabilities of AI-powered robots and their potential to disrupt critical healthcare infrastructure underscore the urgency of international cooperation to mitigate AI-related risks and secure vital systems.