Ian Hogarth, the newly appointed AI tsar for the government, has issued a warning about the potential use of artificial intelligence by cyber criminals to target the NHS. He has emphasized that the disruption caused by these attacks could rival the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Hogarth shared his concerns while outlining the priorities of his £100 million task force during an interview with the Financial Times.
According to Hogarth, weaponizing AI to cripple the National Health Service or carry out a “biological attack” are among the significant risks that his team is aiming to address. He stressed that these risks are not limited to the UK alone and emphasized the importance of international collaboration in managing such large-scale threats. He cited China as an example of a country that the UK collaborates with regarding biosecurity and cybersecurity.
Hogarth compared the potential threat posed by AI to the NHS to that of the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to years of disruptions in the country’s public health service. He also mentioned the WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017, which cost the NHS an estimated £92 million and resulted in the cancellation of thousands of patient appointments. It is evident that he views these risks as augmented national security concerns.
As a former tech entrepreneur and venture capital investor, Hogarth has been actively involved in the planning of the UK’s first global AI safety summit scheduled to take place at Bletchley Park in November. The summit aims to address the challenges posed by AI and develop strategies to ensure its safe and responsible use.
Hogarth’s warnings have been echoed by cyber expert Oseloka Obiora, the CTO of RiverSafe. Obiora points out that if cyber criminals fully master the art of AI cyber attacks, organizations such as the NHS will face serious threats unless proactive measures are taken. He highlights the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, including schools, councils, and hospitals, to such attacks due to both technological and skill-based limitations.
The government is placing these threats at the top of its agenda, recognizing the need for proactive measures to mitigate the risks. However, technology leaders must also take heed of these warnings and take immediate action to better prepare themselves for inevitable future attacks.
Ian Hogarth’s appointment as the government’s AI tsar demonstrates the increasing recognition of the potential dangers associated with AI and the urgency to address them. The £100 million allocated to the task force reflects the government’s commitment to AI safety and signaling that it takes these risks seriously. With international collaboration and proactive measures from technology leaders, it is hoped that the potential harm posed by AI can be mitigated, ensuring the security and resilience of critical systems such as the NHS.