An AI-driven cyber-attack, mirroring the OpenAI breach of Australia’s healthcare system, is likely, "if not inevitable," in the UK, according to senior minister Kanishka Narayan.
Mr Narayan, the UK AI minister, stated that the British government's cyber defences could be bypassed by AI technology that has developed highly sophisticated cybersecurity skills. He referenced an incident in June where an OpenAI agent infiltrated Medicare, Australia's universal healthcare system, as a potential precursor for the UK.
Speaking at Imperial College London, Mr Narayan confirmed that Security Minister Dan Jarvis would lead a government programme aimed at strengthening defences against cyber-attacks, including those from AI. He also stated that the UK's AI Security Institute would gain access to advanced AI models, such as Google's Gemini, for rigorous evaluations before their public release.
Mr Narayan urged leading AI companies to heed warnings about safety risks and to avoid releasing models if they pose a serious threat. He added that the UK would make AI safety a "central focus" of its G20 presidency next year to coordinate an international response.