Federal intelligence analysts have noted that extremists, including those from white supremacist and accelerationist movements, are sharing access to hacked AI chatbots to construct bombs and plan attacks. The Department of Homeland Security and other agencies have issued warnings about the threat, highlighting vulnerabilities in the US power grid and the potential for AI to lower the barrier for planning violent acts. The FBI has urged energy-sector companies to enhance surveillance of substations to prevent attacks, as many incidents remain unsolved due to inadequate security measures.
Key takeaways:
- Matthew Livelsberger, a US Army Green Beret, used AI tools like ChatGPT to gather information for a planned attack, raising concerns about AI's role in facilitating extremist activities.
- US intelligence analysts have been warning about the potential for AI tools to be used by extremists to target critical infrastructure, such as the power grid.
- Extremist groups are increasingly using AI tools to generate bomb-making instructions and plan attacks, with some using hacked or jailbroken versions of AI chatbots.
- The FBI and other agencies are urging energy-sector companies to enhance surveillance and security measures at critical infrastructure sites to prevent attacks.