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The U.K. is seeking coaction for a new AI security research lab that ’s contrive to counterRussiaand other hostile states in what it dubs the “ new AI blazon race . ”
While the U.K. authorities has found numerousfunding initiatives in the pastto support cybersecurity labor , therise of artificial intelligence - fueled nation - state attacks , specifically , is the driving force behind this latest endeavour . The Laboratory for AI Security Research ( LASR ) will be fund initially with £ 8.22 million ( $ 10.3 million ) from the political science itself , but it is assume what it calls a “ catalytic model , ” which it hope will see other entity from industry contribute to the pot .
“ Be in no doubt — the United Kingdom and others in this way are watching Russia , ” the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster , Pat McFadden , said in a preparedstatementahead of the NATO Cyber Defence Conference in London today . “ We have it away exactly what they are doing , and we are countering their attacks both publicly and behind the scenes . ”
The lab ’s ultimate remit is to “ protect the U.K. and its ally against Modern threats , ” and will admit partnership with various government departments , include the Foreign , Commonwealth and Development Office , Government Communications Headquarters ( GCHQ ) , the Alan Turing Institute , and the AI Safety Institute . Academic institutions such as the University of Oxford and Queen ’s University Belfast are also involved , while the government says the laboratory will quest after collaboration with “ like - apt partners , ” including the so - calledFive Eyescountries ( Australia , Canada , New Zealand , the U.K. , and the U.S. ) andNATOmembers .
Russia , in particular , hasbeen a central playerin many recentcyberattacks , with Microsoft president Brad Smithlast week urgingPresident - elect Donald Trump to take a bad stance against nation - states , include Russia , China , and Iran . Indeed , Microsoft has accusedRussian government hacker of continuing to infiltrate its systemsfollowing a hack the previous class .
But while attackers can use AI to surmount their efforts — for instance , by adapting in actual time to duck detecting or exploiting vulnerabilities more expeditiously — AI can also beused to counter such attack . This is partially what the U.K. ’s new cyber lab is designed for .
“ While AI can amplify live cyber scourge , it can also create better cyber defense mechanism tools , and presents opportunities for intelligence agencies to collect , analyse , and produce more useful news , ” McFadden suppose .
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Elsewhere , the U.K. government in Julyannounceda newCyber Security and Resilience Bill , designed to protect public services follow a growing routine of cyberattackson decisive servicesand infrastructure such as hospitals .
