AI critical for national security decision-making, report finds

Artificial intelligence (AI) could help keep the UK safer, a new report by The Alan Turing Institute has found. 

With the potential to “make sense of complex problems”, the report highlighted that failing to use the technology “could undermine the value of intelligence assessments”.

AI could help intelligence analysts process data quicker and more accurately, identifying trends and anomalies “beyond human capabilities”, the report revealed.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden said: “We are already taking decisive action to ensure we harness AI safely and effectively, including hosting the inaugural AI Safety Summit and the recent signing of our AI Compact at the Summit for Democracy in South Korea.

“We will carefully consider the findings of this report to inform national security decision-makers to make the best use of AI in their work protecting the country.”

However, the report also called for additional guidance to be deployed, to prevent AI from "introducing new dimensions of uncertainty” in intelligence analysis.

The report highlighted the use of AI requires “consistent monitoring and evaluation” involving both human intervention and AI recommendations to "counteract biases". 

As AI bases decisions only on data made available to it, there is room for it to produce skewed results. 

Training would upskill intelligence analysts, and strategic national security decision makers like director generals, including permanent secretaries and ministers, and their staff to build trust in the new technology.

Anne Keast-Butler, director of GCHQ, said: “AI is not new to GCHQ or the intelligence assessment community, but the accelerating pace of change is. In an increasingly contested and volatile world, we need to continue to exploit AI to identify threats and emerging risks, alongside our important contribution to ensuring AI safety and security.”

The findings come after the UK Government began its work on the safe use of generative AI by those working in government through the Generative AI Framework. 

The report was commissioned by the Joint Intelligence Organisation and Government Communication Headquarters (GCHQ).