Asked by: Baroness Eaton (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have conducted a risk assessment on the potential impact of superintelligent AI systems on national security.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The increasing capabilities of AI may exacerbate existing risks and present new risks for which the UK needs to be prepared. There is considerable debate and uncertainty around Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and Artificial Superintelligence (ASI), but the possibility of their development must be taken seriously.
The role of the AI Security Institute (AISI) is to build an evidence base on these risks, so the government is equipped to understand their security implications. AISI focuses on emerging AI risks with serious security implications, including the potential for AI to help users develop chemical and biological weapons, carry out crimes such as fraud, and the potential for loss of control presented by autonomous systems.
AISI works with a broad range of experts and companies to assess the potential risks these could pose as the technology continues to develop.