MI6 Chief Warns against Russia, China Technological Edge Pursuit
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MI6 Chief says Britain's secret services must adapt to new technology to survive, warning against Russia and China's investment in AI and other emerging technologies.
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Chief of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, Richard Moore
The MI6 Chief considered that Britain's Secret Intelligence Service must adapt to new technology to keep up with the fast-paced environment and be more open to it to carry out its spy work effectively, warning that technological revolution over the next decade will pose a major threat to the world order.
MI6 Chief, Richard Moore, believes that profound changes in computers and communications and more independence on artificial intelligence will change lives in ways people cannot expect or predict.
Moore will use a landmark speech to set out the dangers of failing to respond to the pace of technological change.
According to him, the challenge requires huge change and modifications in MI6's culture and ethos, as the UK's spies become less secretive and move more toward the private sector.
In a draft of the speech made public Monday night he said the advance of technology and its disruptive impact was the MI6’s “white-hot focus,” adding that “advances in quantum engineering and engineered biology will change entire industries.”
“The huge volumes of data now available across the globe, combined with ever-increasing computer power and advances in data science, will mean the integration of artificial intelligence, AI, into almost every aspect of our daily lives,” he said.
He also considered that at a time others are interested in discussing the benefits of these discoveries, his job demands looking for any accompanying threats. “MI6 deals with the world as it is, not as we would like it to be,” he considers.
In his speech, he is also expected to discuss the digital ‘exponentially growing threat from criminals, terrorists, and state threats.'
'State threats' include Russia, China
In this context, the leader of the UK’s Secret Services warned that Russia and China are investing in artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, which could have future implications for the world’s geopolitics.
Richard Moore is expected to voice his concerns today Tuesday to the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) over efforts by Moscow and Beijing to obtain a technological edge.
“Our adversaries are pouring money and ambition into mastering artificial intelligence, quantum computing and synthetic biology, because they know that mastering these technologies will give them leverage,” Moore will say.
