McFadden: Britain And NATO Must Superior In "New AI Arms Competition"

JAKARTA - Britain and NATO allies must continue to lead the "new AI arms race". This was confirmed by the UK Cabinet Office Minister, Pat McFadden, Monday, November 25. He warned that Russia's cybercriminals are increasingly targeting countries supporting Ukraine.

In a speech at the NATO Cyber Defense Conference in London, McFadden will announce UK plans to establish a new AI Security Laboratory. The lab aims to develop better cyber defense tools and organize intelligence information related to cyberattacks.

Cyber war is now a daily reality, where our defenses are constantly being tested," he said in a snippet of the speech released earlier.

McFadden urged US-led military, business and institutional alliances to "do everything they can to lock their digital doors" in order to protect themselves from increasingly aggressive Russia.

"This threat must be faced with equal assertiveness to protect our citizens and our system. Seventeen-five years after its establishment, it is clear that NATO is more needed than ever before," he stressed.

Moscow had previously denied carrying out cyber attacks and called such accusations an attempt to spark anti-Russian sentiment.

McFadden also said AI technology has the potential to be used as a weapon against Ukrainian supporting countries since Russia's full-scale invasion of 2022, which he says has exacerbated the reality of daily cyber warfare against Britain and its allies.

"AI has revolutionized many aspects of life, including national security. However, as this technology develops, there is a danger that it can be used as a weapon against us, because our enemy also learns how to use AI in physical and cyber fields," he said.

The new laboratory, which is backed by initial funding of 8.22 million pounds sterling, will involve academic and government experts to assess the impact of AI on national security and understand its use by Russia.

There is no doubt: Britain and other countries present in this room are watching Russia. We know what they are doing and are fighting their attacks both publicly and behind the scenes," added McFadden.

"That's why we support Ukraine in its struggle to determine its own destiny," he said.