During the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korea used AI to evaluate mask usage and prioritize clinical symptom indicators. The country also applies AI in maintaining nuclear reactor safety, raising concerns about potential misuse. The report suggests that cloud providers should be vigilant to prevent North Korea from renting infrastructure that could advance its AI capabilities. It also calls for discussions to inform scholars about the risks of international collaborations with North Korea, ensuring compliance with sanctions while preserving academic freedom.
Key takeaways:
- North Korea is making a strategic investment in artificial intelligence (AI) technology, despite international sanctions, for areas like COVID-19 response, nuclear energy, surveillance, and war games.
- North Korea's AI researchers have been collaborating with foreign scholars, including those from China, and there are signs that North Korean hackers are using generative AI for reconnaissance and information gathering.
- During the COVID-19 pandemic, North Korea used AI to create a model for evaluating proper mask usage and prioritizing clinical symptom indicators of infection, demonstrating the versatility of AI in addressing public health concerns.
- There are concerns about North Korea's application of AI in maintaining the safety of nuclear reactors and the potential misuse of cloud computing services to advance its AI capabilities, with suggestions for cloud providers to enhance customer screening protocols and for scholars to be aware of the risks associated with international collaborations.